TNAG-0012-FCO40-48-Kowloon-disturbances-1967 — Page 143

CONFIDENTIAL

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)

FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)

Cypher

D. 25 June 1967 R. 25

1230Z

IMMEDIATE

CONFIDENTIAL No.908

26

JUN

12. 1

1967

261

COPY FOR REGISTRATION

Addressed te -Commonwealth Office Repeated PRIORITY to: Peking No. 358

POLAD Singapore No.196 Washington No.200

(S. of S. please pass to all)

(258)

My telegram No.904.

Sitrep as at 251900.

The situation has been calm with no reports of violence. Labour situation continues to be encouraging but attempts by Communists to intimidate workers are still being made. Public road transport is running at about 50% of normal. Ferry services are running normally although one company will stop the services one or two hours earlier than usual. About 60% of the operational staff in the Power Company on the Island reported for duty but the position in respect of the Power Company in Kowloon is slightly worse at about 30%. No absentee has been reported from the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Ltd. In the port 14 of the 58 cargo working vessels are working slower than usual because of shortage of lighters, stevedores and tally clerks. All vessels alongside are working normally. Labour is abundant but appears to be afraid to work afloat. Eleven marine police launches are keeping watch, and the wharf companies are trying to assure workers that they are adequately protected.

More dismissals of staff are taking place, including 58 in the Urban Services Department and probably around 200 in the Telephone Company. The East Sun Textile Company Ltd., a spinning and weaving factory in Kun Tong, which employs several hundred workers, has 200 workers on political strike. The company has been advised to enforce its rules to suspend absentee workers.

Radio Villa Verde in Macao appears to have been taken over by the Communists and is broadcasting anti-British propaganda. At Sha Tau Kok 6 police were slightly injured yesterday and there were 12 arrests, one of whom was seriously injured whilst trying to escape. Situation at Sha Tau Kok remains quiet. The Governor departed for leave as planned without any incidents.

(Passed as requested with advance copies for Resident Clerk

F.O. (F.E. Dept.) and Commonwealth Secretary's

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No 63

27 JUN 1967

HWBIN

Private Office)

/Distribution

PA

LABT

EFF.

CONFIDENTIAL

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