TNAG-0004-FCO40-40-Departmental-briefs-about-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 123

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Communist organisations and activities.

This policy succeeded in

disrupting the Communist leadership and further depressing Communist morale.

5. Meanwhile, there had been a number of border incidents generally

consisting of attacks on frontier installations by civilians from Chinese

territory. In a particularly serious incident at Sha Tau Kok on 8 July,

five policemen were killed by machine gun fire for which the Chinese

militia are believed to have been responsible. After another serious

incident on 11-12 August at Man Kam To, the main road crossing point,

the border was temporarily closed.

6.

all

Throughout this campaign the Communist and pro-Communist Press has

conducted a constant barrage of vitriolic propaganda and incitement and

in particular has sought to cause disaffection in the Police. Many of

its employees have been involved in law-breaking. Consequently,

prosecutions were instituted against three of the lesser newspapers;

were suspended for the period of the trials and subsequently have been

suspended for six months; a number of journalists have been imprisoned.

No major C.P.G.-owned organ has been proceeded against, but action

against the smaller fry provoked more than usually violent reaction from

Peking, leading to the Chinese ultimatum of the 20th August and to the

burning of the British Mission premises there. Since the suspension of the

three newspapers roneo-ed broadsheets, seditious and inflammatory in tone

have been produced and distributed free and urgent consideration is being

given as to how this new threat should be handled. Action taken against

the Press has not led to any modification in the tone of the other

Communist organs. But any measures to include the C.P.G.-owned papers

will require the most careful consideration and the Governor will consult

us before any such measures are taken.

7.

The Communist reaction to failure has been to step up violence and the

point has now been reached where their main weapon is sheer terrorism in

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