TNAG-0016-FCO40-52-Kowloon-disturbances-1968 — Page 101

Hong Kong telegram SECR to Commonwealth Office

3. A FORTNIGHT'S AMNESTY FOR THOSE HANDING IN WEAPONS,

EXPLOSIVES OF FIREWORKS CAME INTO EFFECT ON 15TH JANUAPY.

1

THE FIGHT WING AND NEUTRAL PRESS AND GENERAL OPINION WELCOMED

THIS BUT THE COMMUNISTS PAPERS, APART FROM CONDELNING THE PLAN

AS RIDICULOUS', HAVE MADE ONLY BRIEF REFERENCES.

4. REPORTS FROM SEVERAL RELIABLE SOURCES INDICATE THAT THE

IMPRESSION IS GROWING IN LOCAL COMMUNIST CIRCLES THAT PEKING

HAS ORDERED AN END TO VIOLENCE BECAUSE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT

IS SEEKING TALKS ON CONFRONTATION OR BECAUSE SUCH TALKS ARE

IN PROGRESS BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE CPC AND THE BRITISH

ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE CONSIDERABLE CONCESSIONS INCLUDING THE

RELEASE OF CONFRONTATION PRISONERS AND A CURB ON KMT ACTIVITIES.

IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THIS REFLECTS A GENUINE BELIEF

OR THE PROPAGANDA LINE TO EXPLAIN THE CURRENT SITUATION.

THERE ARE OBVIOUS DANGERS, NOT THE LEAST BEING THE REACTION

OF THE MORE MILITANT LOCAL ELEMENTS IF IT BECOMES APPARENT

THAT NO MAJOR CONCESSIONS ARE BEING MADE.

5. REPORTS AVAILABLE IN HK INDICATE THAT THE PLA IN KWANG TUNG

IS CARRYING OUT ITS DIFFICULT TASK EFFICIENTLY, BUT THE THREAT

TO HONG KONG FROM DISTURBED CONDITIONS THERE REMAINS

6. FURTHER ECONOMY MEASURES AIMED AT CONSERVING FOREIGN

EXCHANGE AND EFFECTING OTHER CPG CONCERNS MAY FOLLOW THE CUT

IN SUSIDIES TO THE PRESS. EVENTS INDICATE THAT, ALTHOUGH

THE POLICY OF NON VIOLENCE HAS BEEN ACCEPTED, THE LOCAL

COMMUNISTS DO NOT INTEND TO ABANDON THEIR OPPOSITION TO GOVERN-

MENT SEMICOLON PEACEFUL 'DEMONSTRATIONS' AIMED AT ATTRACTING

MAXIMUM PUBLICITY MUST BE EXPECTED TO INCREASE.

FO PLEASE PASS PEKING AS MYTEL 24.

Sir D. Trench

FILES

[Repetition to Peking referred for departmental decision]. [Copies sent to Cabinet Office].

C.O. Hong Kong Dept.

I. and G.D.

LAST

J.I.R.D.

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F.E. and P.D.

Defence Dept.

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F.E. Dept.

Ref.

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