1967
COPY FOR REGIST...nde
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Cypher
D. 1 June, 1967.
07352
Ro
1
191
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63
FLASH
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 750.
186
Your telegrams 1095 and 1096.
Disturbances:
187
- 1 JUN 1967
11401/1
Statement in Parliament.
I think the draft statement generally puts the matter well, but I have the following suggestions and comments.
2.
Your paragraph 2.
After "local Communists" insert, "with stimulated intervention by hooligan elements, some of whom were paid".
30 Your paragraph 3. For "on Government House" substitute "at the entrance gates to the grounds of Government House". No posters were stuck on Government House itself. For "remained orderly" substitute "remained fairly orderly, apart from chanting and shouting venomous abuse".
4. Your paragraph 5. Insert"known" before "casualties" Admissions to hospital were 3 police and 14 others. All have since been discharged. Total arrests were 815; not proceeded against or acquitted 65; convictions 565; cases still pending 185. Figures are as at 0800 hours 1st June.
5. Your paragraph 6. Stoppages have also occurred in two shipyards and three textile mills. In no case were stoppages other than politically motivated.
6
Your paragraph 7. Over 500 representative organisations have openly declared their support. The police children's education fund now stands at over $3 million.
7. Your paragraph 8. For "would be timely" substitute "might be timely, although the possible economic repercussions will have to be carefully watched". I would prefer to see the last sentence omitted. There is already considerable apprehension here amongst industrialists and businessmen generally at the long term effects on the economy of Hong Kong of recent events; and it could be unwise to aggravate this loss of economic confidence both here and abroad by over-insistence at this time on changing our labour legislation; even though there is undeniably room for reform in some areas.
8. Your paragraph 9. I recommend omission of the words "by the authorities in China" in the third sentence (to avoid a direct attack on Peking). This is the paragraph in the statement which will get the greatest publicity here and the terms in which H.M.G.'s determination to support Hong Kong is
40: 1
+
/stated
1869 187
CONFIDENTIAL
PARO
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.