SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Cypher
Do
23 May, 1967.
Ro 23
#
#1
1005Z
IMMEDIATE SECRET
No. 677.
RECUSED IN
ARGEN 12.53
24
CAJN HWA 5/12(1) HWA 1/17
have).
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.).
Repeated
#t
11
Peking No. 254.
" P.A. Singapore No. 122.
"Washington No. 133. (Commonwealth Office please pass to all).
121
Your telegram No. 1001.
Disturbances.
118
114
I am most grateful for your very speedy approval of courses ii and iv in my telegram No. 6627 At this morning's meeting of Executive Council there was full endorsement of both these measures. We hope to be in a position to implement course ii tomorrow (Wednesday).
2.0
Meanwhile the situation is evolving here. Public opinion is flowing strongly in our favour, is advocating firm measures on our part, and we believe that extent of this support has perplexed the other side. So far today has been quiet. The Committee of 17 have been in session most of the day. They may of course be hatching up something fresh to launch on us tomorrow, and this may well be simply the lull before the next storm.
3. Executive Council this morning were unanimously of the opinion that deportation would be the most damaging and effective action we could take against the Communist leadership. They have authorised me to deport all or any of a list of 24 persons at my discretion. It is unlikely, however,
that I would wish to deport so many at once and would prefer to use this weapon more selectively. It is of course a weapon which I would not propose to use lightly or necessarily very soon: but the need to do so may arise very quickly. If the Opposition begin tomorrow to act in a more methodical and co-ordinated manner it may be necessary to act promptly to disrupt their leadership. I very much hope therefore that you will be able to agree to my proceeding on this basis.
40 On Executive Council's advice, I am submitting fairly comprehensive emergency regulations to Council tomorrow, primarily to assist me to combat subversive publications such as posters, public address systems and so on. These regulations will I hope give me better powers to act against the Communist press than those I have mentioned to you so far (my present thought is to act against printing works rather than the newspapers themselves. I am however still reluctant to act against the press and would not do so without consulting you.
15.
SECRET
LACT
REF.
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KEXT
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RIF.
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