Cypher
Chixied on HWAS
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 11th May, 1967.
R.
" 11th
1040Z
6
FLASH
CONFIDENTIAL No. 579
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.). Repeated PRIORITY to Peking No. 202.
"Political Adviser, Singapore,
No. 69
"
(C.O. please pass to both.)
My telegram No. 574.
Industrial Disputes.
This afternoon workers again demonstrated outside the Hong Kong artificial flower works in San Po Kong, Kowloon, and held an illegal meeting which grew to about 1,500. The demonstrators pushed against the gates of the factory and management fearing that the gates would break, called upon the police for help and protection.
2.
Police tried to reason with the demonstrators and to encourage them to disperse, warning that they were committing an offence: the demonstrators persisted in their action. Bottles and refuse were then thrown at the police: eventually scuffles developed and some 60 were arrested by the police using batons and baton shells only.
3. Situation as reported at 1830 local time was that police had general control over the area and were dealing with some tip-and-run scuffling. Riot squads are being withdrawn as far as possible to minimise provocation.
4. Attempts have been made today to make an informal contact with the Left wing leadership with a view to explaining the Government position: that Hong Kong depends for its existence on stability and confidence: that the policy is now, as always, to maintain the law impartially: that whilst the workers and trade unions have every right to act within the law relating to trade disputes, Government must take action when breaches of the peace occur.
(Passed as requested)
/Distribution;
کی
D
CONFIDENTIAL
LAST
REF.
REX
REF.
7
Page 195Page 196
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.