SECRET
2.
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 1345 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
3
(h) A bomb attack on a military post at Sha Tau Kok village on 3 September which broke an otherwise relatively quiet week in the border area and injured three Gurkhas. P.L.A. troops are manning fewer of their field works overlooking British terri- tory, which may indicate a more relaxed attitude and the return of some of their troops to normal barrack accommodation. On 27 August, the foreman of workers under Government contract to build a new Man Kam To post was intimidated by transportation labourers from Chinese territory; construction of the post will not now begin until the completion of an access road which aviods the area used by transportation employees. Daily anti-British broadcasts at Lo Wu have continued, and a number of English broadcasts calling for the defeption of Gurkhas and Pakistani police have been heard at Sha Tau Kok.
(i) The continued partial disruption of food and other supplies from China by rail. On 1 and 2 September all rail traffie between Canton and Shum Chun ceased following reports of heavy fighting near Canton. The 3 of September saw the arrival of · one passenger train. The entry of produce via Man Kam To road (bridge, which resumed on 26 August, has again been totally disrupted since 1 September. Normal quantities of food continue, however, to arrive from China by sea and food prices. remain firm.
Police action against Communist Organisations and premises has continued in the course of which furthur quantities of inflammatory posters, documents and weapons have been seized. A number of persons, including Union members have been arrested and charged with offences relating to these seizures. On 29 August an officer bearer of the China Motor Bus Branch of the Communist M.W.T.U. and a leading confron- tation protagonist was arrested by special branch. He is currently detained under the provisions of the Deportation of Aliens' Ordinance.
ろ。
The first group of defendants brought to trial on charges of
sedition and related offences arising from articles in the three recently suspended independent pro-Communist newspapers were convicted during the week. The Director of the "afternoon news" and the proprietors of the company responsible for printing it were each sentenced to three years' imprisonment. Each company was also fined 12,000 dollars and an order was made for the suppression of the newspaper for six months. So far there has been no defiance of this order (telegram 1316 refers).
44.0 The continuing number of bomb incidents and the publication of the names of six prominent residents as future targets of attack, suggest that local Communists intend to make increasing use of terrorist tactics to further the confrontation. The number of targets threatened with action of this type will probably be increased with the tactical aim of waging a war of nerves and stretching security forces even further in providing appropriate personal protection. The broad strategy of the Communists remains at wrecking the economy of the colony and thus forcing the Hong Kong Government to accede to their demands.
SECRET
15.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.