CONFIDENTIAL
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)
Cypher
Do
3 July, 1967.
"
R.
3
1107Z
JUL
281
1967
12
10
2
9
IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL No. 956.
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.).
Repeated
11
1!
#1
"Peking No. 379.
"P.A. Singapore No. 215.
"Washington No. 210.
"Canberra No. 54. (S. of S. please pass
PRIORITY to all).
(279)
My telegram No. 948.
SITREP as at 031800.
Transport of food from China was resumed yesterday Sunday 2nd when waggons carrying 7,500 pigs and 428 cattle, more than a day's supply, were sent in by rail. Large supplies of pigs, cattle, poultry, fish and vegetables continued to arrive today by road, rail and sea. Local supplies of fish and vegetables have been maintained, and the markets are rapidly returning to normal. Prices are still slightly high, but are
expected to return to normal after tomorrow.
2. Public transport continues to be restricted. Buses on Hong Kong Island about 50% of normal, trams about 75%. In Kowloon the bus service is only about 25% and although this is improving slowly, many drivers have been discharged, complete rescheduling of routes is necessary and it will be some weeks before anything approaching a normal service can be resumed.
30 The port continues to be affected by the strike instigated by the Coxswains and Engineering Union. This strike is mainly affecting the two big European managed companies, Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown, and China Provident, because the majority of their lighter crews are unionised. However, work in the port is continuing at about 95% of normal by the use of small firms employing casual, non-unionised labour. Mainland barges appeared for the first time this morning since Thursday and this led to a resumption of work along the waterfront. However, there are reports of further stoppages being planned.
40 All public utility companies affected by strikes are pursuing a cautious policy of re-employment involving detailed screening of applicants making use of police records.____.
HIVA
(Passed as requested)
275
(Advance copies passed to D.S.A.0. for
Messrs de la Mare, Bolland, Wilson and Denson (F.E. Dept.) and to Prive Office for Commonwealth Secretary).
CONFIDENTIAL
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