SECRET
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 187 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
2
4. SEVERAL SENIOR LOCAL COMMUNIST LEADERS, WHO LEFT IN EARLY FEBRUARY, ARE STILL IN CHINA. THE CONTINUED POSTPONEMENT
OF THE FORMATION OF THE KWANGTUNG REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE
MAY PARTLY EXPLAIN THEIR PROLONGED ABSENCE.
5. THE BORDER REMAINS QUIET WITH ONLY TWO MINOR INCIDENTS.
AFTER THE ARREST OF A WELL KNOW COMMUNIST FROM A NEAR-BY VILLAGE ON CHARGES OF INTIMIDATION, THE ARDUCTION OF A POSTMAN IN SHA TAU KOK (B.T.) WAS THREATENED BY SIX YOUTHS. THEY,
HOWEVER, DESISTED ON THE INSTRUCTIONS
OF A PERSON, APPARENTLY
IN AUTHORITY, WHO CROSSED FROM C.T. AT LOWU, AFTER A COMPLAINT
THAT SMALL BOYS WERE FIRING CATAPULTS AT THE IMMIGRATION OFFICE
A CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE INTERMEDIARY REPORTED THAT THE PLA DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF THE INCIDENT BUT SAID THAT FUTURE INCIDENTS
IF SEEN,
WOULD BE STOPPED.
6. THERE IS NO INDICATION. THAT THE LOCAL COMMUNISTS INTEND
TO INTENSIFY ANTI-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES HERE. THERE HAS BEEN
INCREASING EMPHASIS ON ALLEGED VIET CONG VICTORIES AT MEETINGS
AND IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS. PROPAGANDA ATTACKS ON THE U.S.
HAVE BEEN MORE RESTRAINED THAN MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED
WITH ONLY ISOLATED REFERENCES TO THE AMERICAN USE OF HONG KONG
AS A BASE. ANY MAJOR ESCALATION OF THE WAR IN VIETNAM COULD,
OF COURSE, RESULT IN A REAPPRAISAL OF CHINA'S POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG WITH THE DISTINCT POSSIBILITY OF A CPG CAMPAIGN
AGAINST THE AMERICAN MILITARY PRESENT HERE.
FO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY PEKING AS MY TELNO 61.
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION COPY HONG KONG DEPT.
I. & G. DEPT. F.E. & P.D. DEFENCE DEPT. NEWS DEPT.
F.0. FAR EASTERN DEPT.
NEWS DEPT.
J.I.R.D. J.I.P.G.D. O.L.A.
SECRET
O.P.A. D.I.S. M.O.D.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.