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16
NOTES FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETING WITH MR. ANTHONY ROYLE, M.P.,
ON 16TH OCTOBER, 1967
Mr. Royle is the Chairman of the Anglo-Hong Kong All Party Group formed in October, 1966, within the framework of the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association. Messrs. John Rankin and Patrick Jenkin were
sponsors of the motion which led to its formation. The Group held its first meeting on 16th November, 1966, to elect its officers. Mr. Royle and Mr. Rankin were appointed Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively and Mr. Nigel Fisher was appointed Secretary. The general purpose of the Group is to further the interests of Hong Kong, irrespective of Party interests. In addition to its Chairman and Vice Chairman, the Group
has 24 members of whom 13 are Labour and 11 are Conservative Members of Parliament. The Secretary of State (then Mr. Bowden) last met the Group on 3rd May, 1967, following his visit to Hong Kong.
Situation in Hong Kong
2. The present phase of Communist confrontation in Hong Kong may be described as an uneasy lull. During the past month there has been a general lessening of tension with signs that the local Communist leadership are trying to persuade their rank and file to concentrate on the long-term ideological and educational approach rather than on terrorist activities to achieve their ends. That they have not been altogether successful in this is evidenced by the fact that bomb incidents have continued to occur with varying frequency, albeit on a relatively minor scale.
3. The lessening in tension in the Colony first became apparent in September when preparations began for the celebration of Chinese National
Day on 1st October. The only incident of any gravity on Chinese National Day itself occurred when a Communist-owned ship in the port gave a firework display in defiance of the Government ban on the use of fireworks. This led to police intervention which in turn resulted in the delivery on 9th October of a Chinese protest note to our Chargé d'Affaires in Peking. The note, which inter alia reiterated the "five demands" originally made by the Communists at the outset of the disturbances in May, was rejected. There was an increase in the number of bomb incidents during the few days
immediately preceding 10th October (the "Double Tenth" K.M.T. Nationalist
Day) but the day itself passed off quietly.
J
4. The border has recently remained generally quiet although minor incidents and small demonstrations have continued to occur.
An
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