2.
Plimsoll admitted that instructions had been sent to Bangkok and some of
other Australian posts in the area to answer enquiries from businessmen
and tourists by saying that it would be unwise for them to go to Hong
Kong. This instruction had been based on the fact that at the time (22
May) it seemed unwise, and undesirable from the point of view of the
Hong kong authorities themselves, to encourage Australian visitors to
Hong Kong. I suspect that Australian Government also had in mind the
responsibility that would attach to Australian Ambassadors if they
appear to have been complacent in giving advice to Australian nationals.
3. Plimsoll agreed that in present circumstances there was no reason why
Australian posts should continue giving advice in that sense. He said he
would look at the question again and I gathered that he would send
instructions bringing Australian advice into line with our own.
Commonwealth Office pass Priority Hong Kong 50 and Bangkok 15.
Sent 08292/29 May Received 08462/29 May
Sir C. Johnston
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
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168
182
REP
PEEKP TO HONG KONG AS COMMÔRMALARDALICE (D.T.D.)
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 62 31 MAY 1967
Hwil
TELEGRAM NO, 1074
CONFIDENTIAL
Carter
Kim's 176A
Note for Commonwealth Secretary (for Cabinet 30 May)
Situation in Hong Kong (as at 29 Kay)
Since the situation in Hong Kong was discussed in DOPC on 25 May, the
local communist leadership has continued to avoid violent or riotous
action. The police are rested and the Governor hopes to be able shortly
to stand down the Auxiliary Police.
2.
Communist tactics have been to organise short lightning stoppages in
public utilities (i.e. in bus tram and ferry services) and in Government
Departments (postmen and some Marine staff). While their use of loud
speakers to broadcast inflammatory exhortations has greatly diminished,
propaganda in press and posts continues to inveigh against British
imperialism, alleged police brutality etc., and to press for
The arrival of the acceptance
of the "five demands"
"Bulwark" in Hong Kong has been described as "intimidation by gunboat
diplomacy".
3.
The Governor has not been able to establish direct informal contact with
the communist leadership (the possibility of his doing so was reported
on 25 May). Kis assessment of the present situation is that this is
a time of reappraisal of tactics by the leadership and that they
anticipate and are planning for a "long struggle".
Hong Kong Department Commonwealth Office.
29 May 1967
CONFIDENTIAL
30
177)
MAY
COPY FOR RESISTRATION" 12
1967
2
e
7
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Cypher
D. 30 May 1967 R. 30 I
it
0320Z
RECEIVED IN
ARCHING 10.63
IMMEDIATE CONFIDENTIAL
No. 731
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.) Repeated PRIORITY to: Peking
No.284
POLAD Singapore No.141 Washington No.153
(Commonwealth Office please pass to all)
Sitrep as at 29 2000 local time.
My telegram No.721.
170
After a quiet and uneventful weekend there were stoppages in one public
transport and three industrial concerns today. The Hong Kong Yaumati
Ferry Company's operations were mainly brought to a halt from 0600 to
0900. In Tsuen Wan, three textile factories had token stoppages, in one
case repeated in each succeeding shift. There is a strong right wing
element in Tsuen Wan and representations were made to the police about
intimidation. Tomorrow we expect a limited stoppage on two bus routes in
Kowloon. We are considering the taking of a stronger line over the pay
of a Government employee who joins in stoppages to stiffen the
resistance to intimidation of right wing and neutral workers.
The pro-Communist press has today attacked gunboat diplomacy as
exemplified by the arrival of H.M.S. "BULWARK". A campaign is also in
progress against the police for alleged brutal treatment after the
arrest of those in custody as a result of riots etc. This is gaining
some ground amongst the local population, and we are considering ways of
refutation, The police reverted to a lower state of readiness - force
stand by at 1200 hours on 29 May.
-
Stop press (30 May). A token strike from 0800 - 1000 at the waterworks
is in progress. Supplies are not affected.
(Passed as requested)
(Passed to D.S.A.0. for Hessrs. Bolland, Wilson
and de la Mare and Private Office (Commonwealth
Secretary))
1770
CONFIDENTIAL
177
PARO
/Distribution
CONFIDENTIAL
Distribution
H.K. WID 'C' - I.G.D.
J.I.C. External Distribution
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
Copies also sent to:-
P.S. to Prime Minister
Cabinet Office
Foreign Office
H
刺
11
Treasury
帏
11
===
"
Export Credits Guarantee
Department
Ministry of Defence(Rm.7365)
**
11
11
11
Rm. 7163
- D.I.O., J.I.R,
- P.S. to Mr. Rodgers - Mr. de la Mare
-
-
G
Mr. Bolland Mr. Wilson Mr.
Denson
Mr. Foggon
Mr. D. Hawkins
Mr. C.P. Rawlings
Mr. Henn
Major Koe
[11] Rm.5131) - M.0.2.
- Mr. J.A.B. Darlington
Board of Trade Australia House (Senior External
Affairs Representative) Canada House (Counsellor)
Mr. T. Critchley Mr. K.W. MacLellan
CONFIDENTIAL
En Clair
No.733
COPY FOR RECISTRATION
30
(178
HAY
AF
12
2
1967
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 30 May 1967 R. 30 11
TT
0920Z
tt
Addressed to Commonwealth Office Repeated
t
POLAD Singapore No.143 19 Peking No.286
The Communist papers this morning (30 May) give
front page spread to the 'People's Daily' commentator article about the
"BULWARK" and our alleged gunboat diplomacy. A good deal of front page
space is also devoted to reports of token strikes conducted
"victoriously" on some of the ferry services and in a number of textile
mills. The editorials in both the "Wen Wei Pao" ("illegal trials must be
stopped") and the "Ta Kung Pao" ("you must immediately release people")
both take the line that the trials now going on are illegal, that those
accused had committed no crimes and that any crimes committed were
committed by the police in beating up and arresting "patriotic
compatriots".
2.
Elsewhere in these newspapers a good deal of space is devoted to
reports of alleged torture and beating up by police of prisoners.
Distribution H.K. W.I.D. 'C'
I.G.D.
J.1.0. External Distribution
ION
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIB BUTI
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P.S. to Prime Minister Cabinet Office
Foreign Office
"T
I
17
11
==
F
- D.I.O., J.I.R.
- P.S. to Mr. Rodgers
-
Mr. de la Mare
Mr. Bolland
Mr. Wilson
Mr. Denson
Mr. Foggon
Mr. D. Hawkins
HLUBI|17
в 20
Treasury
-
Export Credits Guarantee Department Ministry of Defence (Room 7365)
tr
II
(Room 7163)
17
(Room 51 31)
Board of Trade
Commonwealth Office (News Dept.) Hong Kong Government Office
-
Mr. C.P. Rawlings
Mr. Henn
Major Koe
M.0.2
Mr. J.A.B. Darlington
Mr. Carrocher
Mr. Boxall
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
30
179
MAY
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIV. 53
Cypher
R.
D. 30 May, 1967.
30
ITH
09222.
30.
PRIORITY SECRET
No. 734.
HUB 1/1
Addressed Repeated
It
to Commonwealth office.
"Peking No. 287.
"P.A. Singapore No. 14440
"Washington No. 154. (Please pass
PRIORITY to Washington only).
Your telegram No. 1038.
155
Disturbances.
Paragraph 8. A statement of this kind would be
most helpful here at this time, since some public apprehension still
exists as to the real extent of H.M.G.'s support for Hong Kong. To
assist with publicity for the statement locally, it would also be most
helpful to know when it is likely to be made and its content.
(Passed as requested)
(Advance copies to Messrs. de la Mare, Bolland
and Wilson and Private Office (Commonwealth Secretary)).
Distribution - H.K. WID 'C'
-
I.G.D.
J.I.C. External Distribution
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
ME.
ILI
155 186
Copies also sent to:-
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Cabinet Office
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IN
11
"
1
"
- D.I.O., J.I.R.
- P.S. to Mr. Rodgers
Mr. de la Mare
- Mr. Bolland
-
Mr. Wilson
Treasury
Export Credits Guarantee
Department
Ministry of Defence (Rm. 7365)
E
H
11
Board of Trade
#
Rm. 7163 Rm. 5131)
SECRET
Mr. Denson
Mr. Foggon
Mr. D. Hawkins
- Mr. C.P. Rawlings
-
Mr. Henn
Major Koe
M.0.2.
- Mr. J.A.B. Darlington
PAD
•
+
Cypher
r
MAY
12
!! 2
K
1967
1
L
✪ CONFIDENTIAL
CUSTRATION
30
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 30 May 1967 R. 30
0925Z
IMMEDIATE CONFIDENTIAL No.735
180
Addressed to High Commissioner Kuala Lumpur
No.20
(Commonwealth Office please pass IMMEDIATE)
We have received a manuscript letter of support for the Government
action during the recent disturbances from a Richard Chow, who claims to
write as Chairman of the Hong Kong Citizens Union in Malaysia and
Singapore. Grateful for any information about Chow and the Organisation.
We would like if possible to give publicity to this support.
(Passed as requested)
Distribution
-
-
H.K. W.I.D. 'C' I.G.D.
HUA1/17
Copies also sent to:
Foreign Office (F.E.Dept.)
1
It
11
-
Mr de la Mare
tt
11
**
CONFIDENTIAL
-
+
Mr. Bolland
Mr. Wilson
Mr. Denson
Cops sent flor for Blen
пор
ес
LESEN.CO.
ک/3
I
Jocument is the P...
FMV(W)(67)16.
30 May. 1967
SECRET
Mr. Carter, DTD, Church House
(to keep)
(181
at's Ger..!.!.
Copy No. 20
1.
VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER TO
CANADA AND WASHINGTON 1967
CHINA AND HONG KONG
Supplementary Bricftby the Foreign Office
Talking Points
B - D D A NA M
The Chinese continue to insist on Britain's acceptance
of their "demands" on Hong Kong. There have, however, been
no important developments in our relations with Peking
since last Wednesday, 24 May, when, following the unilateral
annulment by the Chinese Government of the arrangement by
which we kept an officer in Shanghai, we withdrew Mr. Hewitt
and his family to Peking. The sharp message of protest
Hr. Brown sent to the Chinese Foreign Minister was not
accepted. There have been rune.red demonstrations outside
our Office in Peking but these have not resulted in violence.
2. We considered the possibility of retaliating against the Chinese for
closing our Shanghai Office and for maltreat- ing our officials. There
were three main steps we could
take:
(a) to break diplomatic relations;
(b) to declare personac non gratae members
of their diplomatic mission here; or
(c) to close the London Office of the New
China News Agency.
+
We decided against (a) because we believe that the present political
situation in China will almost certainly change. *and we want to
maintain our presence there. Against (b)
was the certainty that the Chinese would retaliate, leading
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No. 63
- 1 JO1967
LIWA '/17
PAGO
SECRET
/to
KG Machines
131/5
SECRET
to a round of reprisals culminating in (a). The best
step seemed therefore to be (c). However we decided
not to do this at the moment, having in mind the overrid-
ing need to keep down tension with Poking as much as
possible because of its possible repercussions on China's
attitude towards Hong Kong. If Peking should take further
hostile action against our Mission or its officials we
would then consider, in the light or the circumstances,
what action to take, including measures against the N.C.N.A.
3. After the intolerable harassment of the Consul and
his staff in Macao they were withdrawn to Hong Kong on
Thursday, 2; May. The Consulate has been temporarily
closed. Its future will be decided when we see how the
situation develops.
4. Latest reports from Hong Kong indicate that the Governor
remains firmly in control. The only developments over the
weekend have been the continued brief stoppages in public
utilities. Present indications are that these will continue
for some time. The local Communist leadership seems to be
engaged in rethinking its tactics. But we do not think
that at present Peking wishes to force us out of Hong Kong.
FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT
30 May, 1967.
:
4
4
1
J
SECRET
+
En Clair
PERING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno. 610
30 May 1967
181!!!
من
UNCLASSIFIED
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 610 of 30 May Repeated for
information to:
Washington, Hong Kong, POLAD Singapore.
People's Daily of 30 May has only one item on Hong Kong, which reports
statement of Afro-Asian writers Permanent Bureau on 29 May condemning
British Government's actions in Hong Kong along stock lines.
77777
Mr. Hopson
Sent Q500Z 30 May Read 0817Z 30 May
F.O./C.O./WH DISTRIBUTION
Eastern Dept.
ki.
Ringa
CONFILES
8
F
Cypher/Cat A
CANBERRA TO
Telno-873
CONFIDENTIAL
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
31 May 1967
་ ་
Addresscd to Commonwealth Office telegram No.873 of 31 May, Repeated for
information to Hong Kong and Bangkok.
;
...
Australian Government and Visits to Hong Kong.
862.
176 My tele, ram No. 862.
k+6:223/12
Booker (External Affairs) today informed D.H.C. that he had sent a
message to Australian Ambassadors concerned cancelling previous
instructions.
2. He also mentioned that Dorman on his return to Canberra saíd that he
had not only spoken to Chinese as in my telegram No. 827 but also gave
them message in writing. It may be of some signifi- cance that Chinese
accepted this piece of paper and took it away.
.3. In return D.H.C. said to Booker that we hoped soon, to be in
a position to tell Australians a little more about our
forward HWR3), 2 thinking (your telegram No. 1147)
4. My paragraph 1 above. We have been given broad hint by Prime
Minister' Department officials that Qantas authorities in Hong long have
been spreading alarm and despondency here and that this in part accounts
for previous instructions to Australian Ambassadors, It might be helpful
if Hong Kong atithorities were to brief Qantas (without of course
revealing that we have been given this dip).
·Commonwealth Office pass long kong 51 and Bangkok 16.
Sir G. Johnston
0.
Sent
06527 31 May
Recd 06572 31 May
¡Repeated, as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
0.0.
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NNNNN
196
PLE
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES :s.
- 1 JUN 1967
HWA TE
229
nts.
PAD