CONFIDENT TAL
Background Note
1185
There is still no evidence
Chinese are planning to take over Hong Kong.
that the
It is equally unclear
The Hong Kong police
how far they intend to push their demands.
and garrison (which consists of 63 major units including more
than 7,000 fighting soldiers) could probably contain all but
very widespread disturbances.
2. All the available information suggests that the incidents in
Hong Kong on 6 May and later were not instigated from mainland
China. They may have occurred, however, partly because control
over pro-Communist organisations in Hong Kong from the mainland has
recently slackened and local leaders and the rank and file have taker
the initiative in acting in a militant fashion to keep up with
the present extreme atmosphere of the cultural revolution in
China.
3. During the past few days the disturbances have ceased and
the activities of troublemakers are at the moment confined to
instigating temporary stoppages and token strikes in industry
and in certain public services.
4. The Governor's assessment is that the local pro-Communist
leadership are now reappraising the situation with a view to
deciding upon their future tactics and that they anticipate and
are planning for "a long struggle".
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED INTIME DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION SOOF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958
CONFIDENTIAL
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