TNAG-0004-FCO40-40-Departmental-briefs-about-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 63

CONFIDENTIAL

2

disobedience. The anti-Government campaign was

largely unsuccessful because of the firm but

unprovocativo action of the police and the lack of

support by the large majority of the population.

3. No response to demands for compliance with the

five demands was made either by the Hong Kong Govern-

ment or by Her Majesty's Government. In July the

communist campaign began to change to one of

terrorism. The Hong Kong Government secured court

orders susponding the publication of three inde-

pendent communist newspapers, which persistently

carried inflammatory material and incitements to

viclence. On 20 August the Chinese Government issued

a 48-hour ultimatum calling for the ban on the news-

papers to be lifted. Our non-compliance with this

resulted in the burning of the British Mission in

Poking.

4. There was an increase in terrorist activities

during the visit of Lord Shepherd, Minister of State

for Commonwealth Affairs in October; thereafter the

level of bomb incidents fluctuated, but has fallen

significantly in the past few weeks.

5. The disturbances in Hong Kong were probably the

result of an overspill of the Cultural Revolution.

CONFIDENTIAL

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