TNAG-0009-FCO40-45-Kowloon-disturbances-1967 — Page 177

SECRET

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)

FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)

Cypher

Do

12th May, 1967

11

Ro

12th

1030Z

IMMEDIATE SECRET

No. 592.

MAY

K.

45

31

12

バ

Addressed to Commonwealth Office. Repeated

"Peking No. 210.

#t

" POLAD Singapore No. 77.

please pass to both).

PANCH

(S. of S.

12. My telegram No. 589.

Kowloon Disturbances.

I saw R.C. Lee (ex unofficial member of Executive Council with good left-wing contacts) this afternoon and discussed general situation with him, since he has shown himself willing to act as intermediary during last few days,

2. He had already seen Leung Wai Lam (head of China News Agency) and endeavoured to persuade him that the alleged new policy of Hong Kong of concerted action against left wing was a complete fiction: and had tried to explain police position in industrial disputes to him. Leung had said that it would greatly help if (a) those arrested were all released and (b) police undertook to play no part whatever in industrial disputes. Lee had, in reply, endeavoured to point that in respect of (a) the Government could not interfere with the courts and (b) that police had to maintain order if breaches of the peace occurred. He had also reassured Leung on several minor points he had raised and where there had been misunderstanding.

3. I asked Lee to tell his contacts that he had spoken to me;

that I was at a loss to understand the allegations of a new hostile policy; that there was no substance in these charges and generally to speak to them along the lines suggested in latter part of my telegram No. 589.

4. I do not know what effect this may have, nor how quickly, but at least it may do some good and can do little harm.

5. In respect of paragraph 2 above, P.C. Woo (solicitor, Member of Legislative Council and temporary member of Executive Council) is seeing Fai Yee Man (editor of Ta Kung Pao) REC this evening to explain the legal position in regard to (i)

ARCHI

those persons awaiting trial and (ii) the police in respect of industrial disputes. Mr. Woo is known to have represented left wing, interests, and particularly Ta Kung Pao, from time to time/on legal matters.

(Passed as requested)

SECRET

$2

Distribution