TNAG-0012-FCO40-48-Kowloon-disturbances-1967 — Page 94

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QUESTION:

Have you yet seen the Commonwealth

Secretary or 'Mrs. Judith Hart?

SIR DAVID TRENCH: I have seen them both.

QUESTION: You said the Chinese tactic was to

Macao-ise Hong Kong. I cannot quite visualise what the

situation would be in Hong Kong and what the impact would

be on Chinese trade.

SIR DAVID TRENCH: It is difficult for me too,

I am afraid. Macao is a small place and Hong Kong such a

big one. How is it a big city such as Hong Kong could

not compete with Macao really? But of course if they

managed to get a very large proportion of the population

on their side and opposing government authority, it would,

be difficult, but they have not got a large proportion.、

QUESTION: You do not see that they are likely

to at all?

SIR DAVID TRENCH:

No.

!

The only way they would

get anybody on their side is by intimidation, bribery..

This strike of transport buses was for $500 and 50 cans of

`rice.

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QUESTION:

Do you expect this to fizzle out?

į

SIR DAVID TRENCH: The whole thing?

QUESTION: Yes, the actions by your Government

against strikers?

i

1

SIR DAVID TRENCH: It is difficult for me. So long

as Peking keeps the pot boiling it is difficult for the local

boys to give it up.

QUESTION:

There are stories from Hong Kong that

there is a fighting fund and the communist committee has

levied considerable blackmail taxes on business and is getting

them in.

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