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the short term. It would be seen by the majority of
the population as firm action. On the other hand
it is unlikely that the Chinese Government would accept
these leaders as deportees and they would have to be
detained in Hong Kong. This would provide Peking
and the local Communists with a standing grievance and
a further "demand".
9. The newspaper "Wen Wei Po" is in flagrant breach
of the law and if its activities continue to be
ignored it may well be taken as a sign of weakness.
There are nine other Communist newspapers in Hong
Kong which could continue the campaign unless
Action
similar action were taken against them.
against these newspapers would certainly be regarded
by Peking as provocation.
10.
Labour Relati ons. The Communist dominated
trade unions are basically disinterested in genuine
industrial issues, except in so far as they can
exploit them for political ends.
Indeed, their
demand is not for more Government involvment in
labour relations but precisely the contrary
-
the
Government should stay out of labour disputes and leave them to be settled by direct "struggle"
between management and labour on cultural revolutionary lines. Less than 12% of the total working force
of about 1.5m. are declared members of trade unions (100,000 favouring the Communist F.T.U., 40,000 the right-wing T.U.C. and 30,000 neutrals) and paid-up membership are smaller (9% of the labour force).
11.
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