SECRET
Communist Press
Communist Schools
Communist detainees
people of Hong Kong.
They have kept up their criticism of
the authorities using whatever means may have come to hand
and there is every indication that they will continue
indefinitely in their efforts to undermine the authority of
the Government and to win over the general public to their
own side.
19. The main problems on this front which now face the Hong
Kong authorities, both in the short and in the long term, are
those of the communist press and communist schools. The
communists are especially sensitive so far as these
particular activities are concerned since they are essential factors in their long term struggle. The communist press continues to publish subversive material but we are inhibited
from touching it. The last occasion on which the Hong Kong
Government took action to curb the press was immediately
followed by the sacking of our Mission in Peking.
20.
Until recently communist schools have conducted themselves in an unexceptionable manner but since the cultural revolution and particularly during 1967 they have become breeding grounds
of rebellion and hatred of the authorities. Although until
recently these schools catered for no more than 20,000 children (less than two per cent of the total school population)
the communists have recently increased the number of such
schools to accommodate up to 27,500 pupils. This has given
rise to a certain amount of apprehension on the part of
unofficial members of the Government and other leading
citizens.
Consideration is now being given to ways and means
of dealing with the situation without giving unnecessary provocati on to the Peking Government.
21. The Hong Kong authorities have recently been releasing in ones and twos over a period of weeks, a number of communist detainees who have been held in custody in Hong Kong (under emergency regulations) solely because of the part they played in last year's communist inspired disturbances. These
releases have been made at the same time that the Peking authorities (after considerable delays) have been issuing
exit visas for various members of the British Mission in
/ Peking.
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