TNAG-0012-FCO40-48-Kowloon-disturbances-1967 — Page 25

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workers were buried by Government, on the night of 12/13 July as their relatives had failed to collect them despite repeated requests to do so. So far there has been little reaction from the Communists but no doubt there will be accusations of "secret burials to conceal atrocities";

(e) Talk of renewed disruption of food supplies from

China. The tentative date for this stoppage has been set at 17 July, and it is expected to last for two weeks. There are signs that this stoppage will be better organised than the previous one and the Communists will, undoubtedly, use terrorist tactics to intimidate lorry drivers, hawkers, stall-holders and others who deal in local produce to "persuade" them to join the strike;

(f)

an attempt to extend the stoppage in the harbour by obtaining control over lighters has been made, but so far, there has been no serious effect on the working of cargoes. The Hong Kong Seamen's Union has announced that, to support the "anti-British struggle" it will shortly be calling a strike of seamen on vessels which call at Hong Kong, particularly those bringing food.

(g) An attempt to persuade overseas buyers of C.P.G. goods

to bypass Hong Kong as a transhipment port. Stocks of materials destined for overseas, are being held in Communist godowns in Hong Kong on the pretext that 9 because of the disruption caused by the strike, it is impossible to ship them out. Buyers are being asked by the China Resources Company (C.R.C.) to recommend alternative ports of transhipment for any goods they purchase;

(h) despite further talk in Communist organisations, of a

refusal to pay taxes and other fees to Government, action has been taken;

(1)

(3)

2.

no

a continuation of the anti-British propaganda in the local Communist press which has applauded the violence committed and made exaggerated claims about its effect. The police force is still a major target for attack, it being falsely alleged that morale is low and widespread resignations are taking place. Leaflets, posters and slogans continue to appear but are taken down or obliterated as soon as they are discovered;

both N.C.N.A. in Peking and their local branch have protested about the arrest of a N.C.N.A. reporter who. was detained for taking part in an unlawful and intimi- dating assembly.

On the nights of 12/13 and the 13/14 July, police raided a total of three Communist Union premises and one Communist school, which have been directly involved in the confrontation, in the course of which weapons, consisting of sharpened bars, home-made spears, acid, etc., inflammatory posters and documents were confiscated and arrests including a union chairman and a number of other office-bearers, were made. Strong resistance was encountered by police trying to obtain entry to one of these premises, the Kowloon Dock Workers' Amalgamated Union, in the course of which the defenders used a variety of weapons including acid. Police were forced to use gas and firearms and when access was eventually obtained one dead body, the Union paid secretary, and three people

/with

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