TNAG-0009-FCO40-45-Kowloon-disturbances-1967 — Page 99

SECRET

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)

FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)

1

+i

ZAMA (987

Cypher

D. 17 May 1967 R. 17

18

0809Z

FLASH

SECRET

ZATION

No.620

57

Addressed to Commonwealth Office Repeated

#t

Peking No.231

"POLAD Singapore No.99 "Washington No.115

(Please pass to all)

Your telegram No.928.53

Peking Statement.

I would prefer to see something more positive in tone. One of my major anxieties at the present time is to do everything possible to maintain public morale and confidence, without which our position here would be untenable.

2. I think therefore that we ought to make it clear:

(a)

(b)

*

that we do not accept Peking's charges as a true statement of the facts; and

that in the light of the true facts of the matter H.M.G. cannot accept that the ' demands' are justified.

If we do not plainly state our attitude towards the 1 demands', Peking are surely certain to return to the charge.

3. On matters of detail:

LAST

REF.

57

In view of the traditional Chinese disinterest in the concept of the 'law' I would prefer to avoid the phrase 'to maintain law and order' in the first and fourth sentences of the

5869 2nd paragraph, and instead to use 'to preserve

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63 12 M 190/

1/1

вазо

(b)

(c)

the peace'.

It seems necessary to make the point that both on 6th and 11th May the police acted only after giving repeated unheeded warnings to the crowds;

In fact, of the 421 arrested up to morning of 17th May, 313 have been committed, 14 have been discharged, 12 have been acquitted and 82 cases are pending. The figures for those bailed varies from day to day as cases are heard and it has

/only

SECRET