(a)
(e)
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of the Hong Kong and China Gas Company, which are in close proximity to each other, barricade. themselves in their respective yards and put up posters, threatened physical violence and malicious damage to property. Police were forced to intervene to clear the premises and arrested 545 persons of whom 115 were charged with various offences. About 15% of the labour force of 800 at the Hong Kong Island Maintenance Depot stayed off duty on 8 June, whilst P.W.D. electrical workers, at a Kowloon depot, put up posters and refused to work.
The holding of the general manager and assistant general manager of the Taikoo dockyard as hostages within the dockyard by the workers until under duress they had signed an apology for taking down posters, agreed to the display of fresh posters, and promised not to call in the police. Subsequently the management announced on the night of the 7 June that there would be a temporary suspension of work in the dockyard during which all the workers would be paid. So far, there has been little overt reaction to this move. When the dockyard reopens, possibly early next week, the management intends to recall only those workers whose services they wish to retain.
An attempt by the local Communists to single out for action those Government Departments and European owned concerns in which they are strongest, in the hope that they can bring them to a standstill, thereby demonstrating Government's inability to deal with the situation.
(f) The local Communist press has continued to
(g)
(h)
(i)
publicise the 3 June editorial from the People's Daily, using it as a rallying call for their supporters in conjunction with a sustained anti- Government propaganda campaign which reached its height on 8 June, when articles appeared calling on Government servants to rebel and alleging that anti-suppression groups had been formed within the police force.
A new facet of the campaign to disaffect the police force has appeared, this time by dissemina- tion of printed pamphlets containing an appeal allegedly from police officers who have "turned their guns". These documents, which have been addressed to formations within the police force, call upon Chinese officers to turn against the "British leaders".
A continuation of attacks by anonymous letters and overt propaganda, directed at individuals and organisations announcing their support for Government.
An increase in intimidation of workers to participate in strike action. This usually takes the form of references to a "future day of reckoning" or an open show of force without verbal threats.
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