TNAG-0017-FCO40-53-Kowloon-disturbances-1968 — Page 26

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Mission staff in England. Clearly that this is not to be a direct

recíprocal concession is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that

the latest C.P.G. move to issue visas followed the Hong Kong Government

announcement of steps to de-register the communist Chung Wah Middle

School. Rather was it probably the result of a combination of factors,

one of which may have been some forewarning of the British diplomatic

campaign which was set in motion at the end of July, with a view to bringing some pressure to bear on the C.P.G. regarding viɛas. However the lifting of movement restrictions in London and Peking can be seen

as a reciprocal concession, although the C.P.G. still continues to impose

restrictions as it sees fit.

CONCESSIONS RESULTING FROM CHANGES IN COMMUNIST POLICY

5.

As mentioned above, the largest group of concessions by

communists in Hong Kong falls within Annexure 'C', and emanates from a

deliberate change in policy towards confrontation in the Colony. As early as September, 1967, some local C.P.G. commercial organisations were already

attempting to return to normal business, rather than engaging in subversion

and violence. However, with the advent of the Peking instruction in December, 1967, to end the violent phase of activity, this move quickly

became more widespread. By the end of that month, through the offices of

the local communist leadership, this instruction had been effectively enforced. This new communist tactic was not prompted by any response to

conciliatory actions by the Hong Kong Government but by a realisation of

the failure of their previous policy in the face of determined resistance

by Government and the community as a whole. Nevertheless, the fact that

this major change took place must be regarded as a highly important change of policy. In ending violence Peking demonstrated that control had been reimposed over local militants and indicated a willingness, albeit to serve

her own ends, to see a return to more normal conditions in Hong Kong. It

is considered that it is within this context that the firmer control

exercised by C.C.A. personnel in the Border area and the general lowering of tension there should be seen. The Hong Kong Government responded with

a number of restraints and concessions including the general cessation of police action against communist representatives.

NON-RECIPROCAL CONCESSIONS BY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT

6.

Since May 1967, the Hong Kong Government has made numerous concessions, in the form of restraint in not taking justified action

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