TNAG-0012-FCO40-48-Kowloon-disturbances-1967 — Page 158

Cypher

SECRET

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

(The Secretary of State)

FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)

D. 23 June, 1967. R. 23

11

0945Z

254

9

IMMEDIATE SECRET No. 891.

(246)

Addressed to Commonwealth Office

Repeated

11

11

10

#1

t

POLAD Singapore No.189,

Peking No. 352,

Washington No.195

(S. of S. please pass all)

My telegram No. 854.

H. K. confrontation.

Following is L.I.C. assessment of the situation

as at mid-day 23 June.

The principal features of the communist confrontation with Government over the past week have been :-

(a)

(252)

246 277

RCHIVES ZOJONA

(b)

IN

63

HwAiln

Preparations for a strike in the transport industry. Attempts are being made to persuade workers

in bus, tram and ferry companies, as well as lorry, taxi and "private car hire" drivers, to join in the strike. It seems almost certain that it will begin on 24 June. There has been mention also that the strike will be called simultaneously with a funeral procession for the three workers who died subsequent to police action. (See my telegram No. 875 and paragraph 2(b) below). In an effort to obtain support for the strike action, subsistence allowances to workers of up tog(H.K.) 500 a month, are being paid or promised before strike action starts. It is known however, that doubts exist amongst the communist leadership as to the amount of support this strike will receive. They would have preferred to defer this action until they achieved greater consolidation but are pressing on, apparently to meet the expressed wishes of the more militant rank and file, and also to exploit his excellency's departure;

preparations for a funeral procession/memorial service for the three deceased workers referred to above. Whilst it is known that senior communists in labour circles would prefer to hold orderly memorial services inside communist controlled premises, there has been considerable talk at union and other meetings of a mass procession. Although the leaders are at present striving to obtain control over the confrontation, at least in as far as it affects labour circles, it is possible that they may succumb to pressure from below and agree to a funeral procession:

/(c)

DAG

SECRET