CONFIDENTIAL
The
Hong Kong, to resign from locally based shipping companies and only to take new employment with Union permission. Seamen's Recruiting Office is still dealing with applications. The Director of Marine has sent a letter to all Hong Kong based seamen throughout the world pointing out the dangers of a general withdrawal of labour. Agitators have been at work several ships but there are no reports of any major support for the strike so far. Port working has continued normally, although there are fresh reports of renewed intimidation among employees of the Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company.
5.
The main headlines of leading Communist newspapers on Saturday dealt with a statement by the All Circles Committee which was virtually a call to armed insurrection using any
A similar weapons including those captured from the "enemy". statement by Leung Wai Lam, Director of N.C.N.A., was also given prominence. There has been a lively reaction in the local press to the arrest of the delegation outside Government House on 16 July. Among those detained were two reporters from the N.C.N.A. and three from the main local Communist papers, as well as a number of school teachers including the headmaster of a Communist school. There have also been protests about the arrest of two well known pro-Communist film stars.
6.
The series of successful police raids have reassured the public transport workers who are nonetheless aware that they remain the primary targets for hooliganism and terrorism. Services by day are generally satisfactory but fall off markedly after dark and terminate quickly if there is any trouble.
7. It appears that the proposed stoppage of food supplies has definitely been cancelled or postponed. There are reports that the main local CPG distributing agency has refused to cooperate unless ordered to do so by Peking.
8. A strike by the H.K.S.U. could, if successful, disrupt the Colony's shipping services and overall economy. Police raids on Union premises have caused considerable disruption and damaged morale. Undoubtedly the Communists will have to try some counter measures, which could well include an intensification of bomb throwing and hooliganism, if they are to restore the flagging morale of their supporters.
(Passed as requested)
(Advance copies passed to Commonwealth Secretary, Messrs. de la Mare, Wilson, Bolland and Denson, F.E. Dept. F.O. and Mr. Glover News Dept.)
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CONFIDENTIAL
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