TNAG-0017-FCO40-53-Kowloon-disturbances-1968 — Page 25

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that the Hong Kong question was a major factor (Annexure 'B'). The third category contains concessions by local communists and the Hong Kong Government arising from changes in communist policy, mainly the

cessation of violence as a major means of confrontation, and a change to a political 'struggle' (Annexure 'C'). The fourth category which is, in fact, the largest, lists the many concessions made by Government since May, 1957, either as a clear cut conciliatory act or as a part of

the very many restraints which were placed, as a matter of Hong Kong Government policy, on perfectly justified action against communists in the Colony (Annexure 'D'). In this context the aim was to make it

perfectly clear that Government did not wish to bring about any

aggravation of the situation and was doing all in its power to reduce

tension within the bounds of maintaining law and order.

NEGOTIATED CONCESSIONS

3.

The Border Talks (Annexure 'A') illustrate yet again the

communists' determination to extract the maximum concessions during any

negotiated settlement; indeed their conduct during the meetings with

Hong Kong Government representatives soon made this clear. It could be

claimed that the subsequent firmer control exercised by C.C.A. personnel

in the Border area was a direct result of the talks, but this can be

attributed equally to the change in communist policy at about that time concerning the future general conduct of confrontation (see Annexure 'C' (b) and (c)). In any event the agreement by the Chinese authorities to allow

unhindered repairs to the primary fence was not honoured, and harrassment

of British Security Forces has continued from time to time to the present

day. While access to Grey was permitted, again this was only in return for special visits to 15 prisoners in Hong Kong, to whom access had never been

denied.

DIPLOMATIC CONCESSIONS

4.

On the face of it, the Chinese would appear now to be considering

a return to normal diplomatic practice in respect of visas for representat-

ives of H.M.G. However it is somewhat unrealistic to consider the visa

question in isolation or to suggest that the possible current change in the

communist attitude on this matter is stemming directly from the relaxation

of what was little more than an academic restriction placed on the Chinese

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