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CONFIDENTIAL
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IMMEDIATE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG
TELNO 2130
18 OCTOBER 1967 (HWB 1/17)
CONFIDENTIAL
FOLLOWING FOR HALL FROM GALSWORTHY.
ANTHONY ROYLE M.P. HAS PUT DOWN QUESTION FOR ORAL REPLY ON 24 OCTOBER ASKING SECRETARY OF STATE IF HE WILL MAKE STATEMENT ON SITUATION IN HONG KONG. FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF DRAFT REPLY WHICH WE PROPOSE TO SUBMIT:
QUOTE.
THE MONTH OF AUGUST WAS MARKED BY AN INCREASED RESORT TO TERRORISM ON THE PART OF THE COMMUNISTS, AND BOMB INCIDENTS HAVE CONTINUED SINCE THEN WITH FLUCTUATING INTENSITY. I KNOW THE HOUSE WILL JOIN WITH ME IN DEPLORING THE LOSS OF LIFE AND INJURIES CAUSED BY THIS ODIOUS AND QUITE POINTLESS TERRORISM, AND IN EXPRESSING OUR SYMPATHY TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY IT.
INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED ON THE FRONTIER VARYING FROM MINOR INCURSIONS OF CIVILIANS TO MORE SERIOUS INCIDENTS SUCH AS THE ABDUCTION OF POLICE PERSONNEL AND CIVILIANS.
THE HONG KONG POLICE HAVE CONTINUED TO ACT VIGOROUSLY AGAINST THE COMMUNIST TERRORISTS: AND THANKS TO THEIR SPLENDID BEHAVIOUR AND TO, THE STEADFAST SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, THE AUTHO- RITIES REMAIN WELL IN CONTROL OF THE SITUATION. THE COLONY IS CONTINUING ITS NORMAL LIFE: AND IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT ITS EXPORTS FOR EACH MONTH SINCE THE DISTURBANCES BEGAN HAVE EXCEEDED THOSE
FOR THE CORRESPONDING MONTHS LAST YEAR. UNQUOTE
2. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD DISCUSS WITH MINISTER AND GOVERNOR AND
LET US HAVE ANY COMMENTS AS MATTER OF URGENCY.
3. IN PREPARATION FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES WE SHOULD ALSO BE GRATEFUL TO RECEIVE BY LATER TELEGRAMS DETAILS AS AT 23 OCTOBER OF: (A) CASUALTIES FATAL AND NON FATAL
(B) TOTAL NUMBER OF ARRESSTS, CONVICTIONS, ACQUITTALS AND RELEASES, ALL WITH EFFECT FROM BEGINNING OF DISTURBANCES: AND, (C) TOTAL PRISON POPULATION AS AT THAT DATE.
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SENT 1830Z/ 18 OCTOBER
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