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our view a fundamental change by China to new or
"aggressive" foreign policies but does mean that for
Hong Kong we cannot rely to the same extent as in the
ها نفر گریانیه
past on China's recognition of the economic value of
the Colony, causing her in all circumstances to maintain
the status quo. There is no evidence that the Chinese
intend to take over Hong Kong the latest official
Peking pronouncement suggests that they are contemplating
a long drawn out struggle. But if large scale disturbances
with attendant bloodshed were to occur in Hong Kong or
undisciplined elements from neighbouring Kwangtung
province broke into the Colony, a situation could arise
in which the Chinese leadership in the present overheated
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and chauvinistic atmosphere of the Cultural Revolution
would be impelled to give full support to local pro-
Communists and conditions might then be created which
the Hong Kong Government would be unable to control.
The continuation of a firm but unprovocative policy in
Hong Kong and the avoidance of unnecessary retaliatory
action against Peking for the treatment of our officials
is therefore likely to remain the best means of helping
Hong Kong to ride out the present storm.
The Cultural Revolution
3. The main theme of the Cultural Revolution remains
the attack in the official press on the Head of State,
Liu Shao-ch'i. A mass of historical material continues
to be produced in an attempt to prove that he has
CONFIDENTIAL
/consistently
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