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HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 1434 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)
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11 compatriots will have to rely mainly upon themselves to attain victories". This is another inference that little further assistance can be expected from China (see also paragraph 4).
As a
(f) The continued improvement in the quantity of food and other supplies entering the Colony from China, consequence there has been a drop in prices (paragraph 5 of telegram 1423 refers). On 24 September, for the first time in two months, an express passenger train arrived in Shum Chun from Canton.
(8) The continued comparative calm of the border area was marred by a bomb being thrown on 19 September at Sha Tau Kok from C.T at security forces drawn to the area by a minor stoning incident. One police officer and four military personnel were slightly, injured by the explosion (telegram 1423 paragraph 4 refers). The PLA have twice taken action to disperse groups involved in minor stone throwing,
Further seizures of inflammatory matter, documents, bomb making materials and crude weapons have been made during police action against Communist organisations and premises. A number of people were arrested, including some wanted by police in connection with recent disturbances.
3. Two further inspections of Communist-controlled schools were carried out without incident. Apart from evidence of the propagation of Mao's thoughts, no irregularities came to notice.
4.
The PLA continues to exercise strict control over their border area though the slight increase in the number of illegal immigrants entering the Colony continues 13 by land and 12 by sea have been arrested in the past week. They are mostly young men who have relatives in Hong Kong. The reasons given for leaving China have been inability to secure employment, difficulty in obtaining food and general hardship. All came from Kwangtung. While saying that
they knew of other people who wished to flee to Hong Kong they reported seeing nothing to indicate any build up of potential refugees. Reports from travellers indicate that Canton City is quiet and that dissident elements have been forced into the country- side, Fighting between rival factions about thirty miles to the North of Hong Kong has been reported.
5.
Despite widespread Communist Press attacks on H. E. the Governor, demonstrations which were expected to coincide with his return to the Colony on 24 September did not materialise. Two bombs bearing his name were planted outside Government House during the morning; one exploded without causing damage or injury and the other was disposed of safely. A number of objects bearing red flags and inflammatory slogans were found floating in the harbour during the day, but these incidents apart, the Colony spent an unusually quiet day.
6.
The fact that bomb incidents and minor demonstrations continued on a slightly increased scale during the week may indicate a split between the leadership in the C.P.G. spheres of influence who are anxious that tension should be lowered and emphasis placed, once more, on united [? grps omitted] from activities and a restoration of trade, and the militant rank and file in Trade Unions and schools. The speech in the name of the Chairman of the A.C.A.P.S.C., stressing the long term nature of the struggle and its political aspects, could well be an attempt
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