TNAG-0012-FCO40-48-Kowloon-disturbances-1967 — Page 117

270

CONFIDENTIAL

INWARD TELEGRAM

COPY FOR REGISTRATION

TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)

FROM HONG KONG (O.A.G.)

in

2 8 JUN 1967

C. D.

Cypher

D. 27 June, 1967.

R. 27

10152

28

10

PRIORITY

CONFIDENTIAL No. 926

(261)

Addressed to Commonwealth Office Repeated

#1

11

Peking No. 364

11 POLAD Singapore No.203 and

Washington No.204

11

(S. of S. please pass to all)

My telegram No. 908.

Sitrep as at 27 1800.

There has been no significant change in the

public transport situation.

Difficulties have been

experienced in road haulage particularly of foodstuffs. Intimidation has continued to affect the operation of the wharves in the western part of Hong Kong Island and also the

The distribution of rice from the main go-downs there. supply of pigs to the Colony has been disrupted although nearly 1,500 have been sent in from China. There have been demonstrations in Chinese territory opposite Lo Wu and Sha Tau Kok.

2.

Refusal of transport workers to move cargoes from the wharves coupled with some intimidation and heavy rain seriously delayed working in West Point of Hong Kong Island. The main centre of intimidation is a C. P.G.-owned go-down which is inside the main rice storage area. Distribution was interrupted until mid-day. Elsewhere in the harbour there was a general improvement, only six out of 81 ships were affected by the strike.

3.

A supply of over 300 pigs arrived by road from China but was sent back by the C.P.G. agency here. The same happened to six railway trucks loaded with vegetables. A further 1,100 pigs delivered by rail have not yet been unloaded here. There seems to be a disagreement between the C.P.G. importing agency and the local communists, particularly the lorry drivers, who refuse to deliver goods to market and regard the agency as acting like strike breakers. As a result there is likely to be a shortage of pork tomorrow particularly on the island. Prices could go up by as much as 25%. The future beyond tomorrow is obscure.

261

272

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63.

20 JURI907

HUA 1/17