CYPHER/CAT.A.
COPY FOR ALS STRATON
SECRET
9/2
ROUTINE WASHINGTON
TELEGRAM NO. 2352
SECRET.
TO FOREIGN OFFICE
13 JULY 1967
ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 2352 OF 13 JULY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING, HONG KONG,
RENEWED DISTURBANCES IN HONG KONG.
FROM CONTACTS AT WORKING LEVEL WE WOULD JUDGE THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT REMAIN ESSENTIALLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE ABILITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO CONTROL THE SITUATION.
2. NATURALLY THEY HAVE NAGGING DOUBTS ABOUT THE PRESENT OVER-SPILL OF IRRATIONALITY AND EXTREMISM FROM THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION INTO EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE CHINESE MUST REGARD HONG KONG AS BEING LESS EXTERNAL, AND MORE SENSITIVE, THAN SAY BURMA: BUT THEY SPEAK OF THESE ONLY AS QUOTE NAGGING DOUBTS UNQUOTE. THEY STILL SEE THE ROLE OF PEKING AS ONE OF RESPONSE, GOVERNED BY THEIR INABILITY TO DISAVOW ACTIONS PERPETRATED IN THE NAME OF MAO OR OF CHINA, ACCORDINGLY, THEY SEE THE KEY TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS AS RESTING IN THE EFFECT ON THE ATTITUDES OF COMMUNISTS IN HONG KONG OF THE PRESENT MEASURES TO CONTROL VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION. THEY MAKE NO (NO) PREDICTIONS ABOUT THIS, BUT THE DESK OFFICER CONCERNED TODAY WONDERED ALOUD WHETHER THE COMMUNIST LEADERS IN HONG KONG, WHO HAD APPARENTLY LEARNED WITH SURPRISE OF THE INCIDENT AT SHA TAU KOK DURING A POLICY REVIEW MEETING, MIGHT HAVE BASED THE PRESENT CAMPAIGN ON AN OVER-ESTIMATE OF THE SUPPORT FROM CHINA WHICH THAT INCIDENT MIGHT BETOKEN. HE ALSO MENTIONED A RECENT ARTICLE IN TA KUNG PAO ON WATER SUPPLY, WHICH HAD BEEN DEFENSIVE IN TONE AND APPEARED TO ENVISAGE RESUMPTION IN DUE COURSE, F.O. PASS PEKING 26, HONG KONG 89.
SIR P. DEAN
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.0.
LAST
RCF.
SENT 14/0248Z
RECD 14/0248Z
F.E.D.
S.E.A.D.
J.I.R.D.
D.T.D.
C.O. F.E.P.D.
3
SECRET
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES N~ F3
17 JUL1967
HWAID!
SENT TO HONG KONG AS COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)
TELEGRAM NO. 1447
PAD
AT
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