En Clair
HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (DTD)
Tel. Unnumbered
NCLASSIFIED
21930 SITREP 2.
1
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVIONo.63 29 Rubber
412 COPY
While barriers were being removed Chise soldiers were seen posing for their own photographers at their end of bridge. Bridge was re-opened without incident.
At Lowu railway crossing loudspeakers from Chinese end of bridge began broadcasting announcements shortly before noon today. Announcements in English,Cantonese and Mandarin contained entirely false allegations to effect that farmers and workers from Chinese territory had been prevented from crossing bridge to tend their fields on Hong Kong side. Broadcast contained threat to effect that if workers or farmers were obstructed in any way Hong Kong authorities would "be held responsible for consequences".
In reply to these allegations and threats, brbadcasts in English and Cantonese were made from railway station on Hong Kong side pointing out that border at Lowu was opened as always for farmers and workers to work in peace.
Finally at exactly 3 p.m. column of fifty-three (repeat fifty three) people walked in procession across bridge carrying flags and placards. Procession was headed by women dressed in black and bearing farm implements. Men followed some distance to rear. They were not (repeat not) obstructed in any way and proceeded down platform and across railway siding on Hong Kong side to disappear around shoulder of hill to east of station. Minutes later they were observed in open paddy fields about half mile from bridge on banks of Shum Chun river. There they laid down their propaganda materials and loitered around for some time before commencing somewhat reluctantly the tilling of their plots.
Immediately it was seen that progress of these workers had not (repeat not) been interfered with in any way since they had gone about their business in peaceful and orderly manner, broadcasting from Chinese territory ceased. It was not
It was not (repeat hot) recommenced. More informs.
O.A.G.
Sent 1557Z/ 25 August
Read 1455Z/ 25 August
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
C.O.
H.K. & W.1.D."C"
I.& G. D.
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PPPPP
News Dept.
F.E.D.
J.I.P.G.D.
J.I.R.D.
Overseas Labour Adviser
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