Cypher
SECRET
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
IMMEDIATE
SECRET
No. 1133.
Sent 6 June, 1967. 22382
ARGY
219
IN
MUA IN In
Addressed to Governor Hong Kong. Repeated for information IMMEDIATE
ROUTINE
#
#
11
tt
to Peking. " POLAD
Singapore. "Washington.
63
214
Your telegram No. 768.
Disturbances.
£207
We agree that courses outlined in paragraph 4 of your telegram under reference are not so severe as deportation and are open to less criticism. But, on the assessments of CFG involvement in Peking telegram No. 626 to Foreign Office (202 and your telegram No. 776, we judge it would be wiser to avoid action against their "officials" in the NCNA, Bank of China and China Resources Company if at all possible, since this would make it more difficult for them to disengage from a policy of all-out confrontation.
2*
On the other hand, we appreciate that officials of the NCNA and Bank have been in the forefront of the anti- Government propaganda campaign which must be effectively countered if the confidence of the ordinary people of Hong Kong is to be retained.
3. Question of NCNA here is not seen to be particularly relevant. Its representatives are of course no danger to internal security here (as they are in Hong Kong) and any action against them would be purely retaliatory. Home Office agreement is required and consultations are proceeding with a view to deciding what action might be taken if any should be considered necessary or desirable.
螗
L The paramount consideration is the need to maintain internal security (and therefore public confidence and morale) in Hong Kong. We must leave it to you to decide whether in the local circumstances such measures as you propose are required but we hope that you can hold your hand as long as possible.
(Passed D.S.A.0. for repetition as noted and for advance copies to P.S. to Commonwealth Secretary and to Messrs. de la Mare, Bolland, Wilson, Far East Dept. F.0.)
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