145
The Deputy Under- fesetar in charge of The Depenteine
1.
2.
Tenisone Dürsion of Commonweadin office is at present in Hong Kong, witne other officials.
AB
As my colleagues will be aware, the present
troubles in Hong Kong had their origin in a labour dispute, which was not handled wisely by management in its early stages somewhat provocatively7.
It was after a lockout and wholesale dismissals that the
two concernet.
A
first scuffles occurred, outside the factory We have
now heard that the dispute is over, and that there has
been a resumption of work.
accome of the history of the disturbances is quen av Annex A.
A full
However, the origin seems now to be probably almost
irrelevant in the light of the pattern of demonstrations
and violence of the last ten days. It may help my
colleagues to know that on the whole the assessments and analyses of television and responsible press reports.
Our
in the last few days accord with my own interpretation,
based on the most reliable sources available to us, Briefly
this is as follows.
(a) A loosening of control by mainland China of the
C.P.G. in Hong Kong has resulted from recent developments
in the Cultural Revolution. The first mass demonstrations
in Hong Kong were probably promoted independently by the
C.P.G. there, in an opportunist desire to make the most
of genuine labour unrest.
(b) Mainland China had to react to the situation, and
chose to give support to the C.P.G. in Hong Kong.
3. The unknown factor in the present crisis is how
far mainland China has now decided to go in bringing
pressure on HMG, and how far there are different views
there on future policy.
4. The possible interpretations of the Chinese course
on the assumption.
of action, that she is now controlling events, appear
to be these:
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