Cypher
IMMEDIATE
TOP SECRET
TOP SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)
D. 19 July, 1967.
R. 19
#1
08452
No. 1069.
08557
333
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.)
Repeated
#1
Peking No.425,
#1 P.A. Singapore No. 253,
Washington No.232
tt
(S. of S. please pass PRIORITY to all)
330
Your telegram No. 1463 (not to Washington).
Confrontation.
Tactics of the opposition continue to be based on violence and intimidation, although a reversion to the strike weapon is being tried again in respect of seamen so far without success. Violence until now has been contained by effective police action with military support, though the increase in the use of explosives is rather worrying. So far, partly by good fortune, damage and injuries have been negligible. Support for Government has increased, information to the police is on the increase and co-operation by the public in keeping out of disturbed areas has improved.
2.
The effect of police action has been to skim off some of the organisers of violence. Those who are still at large are becoming increasingly apprehensive, afraid
to use their normal haunts, which are likely to be known to the police, and inhibited from getting together for planning purposes. All this is excellent and the police are still moving forward (see my telegram No. 1060). Although many worthwhile targets in the middle range still exist without moving into more sensitive fields, they are less likely to be as productive in the future and we are considering moving against selected leaders with a view to preventing them reforming and organising yet tougher moves against the Government. There is, however, good reason for us to think that many of these more sensitive fields are already apprhensive about action against them. This is all to the good.
3.
I foresee that we shall need to continue for some time along this path of "grasping and retaining the initiative" upon which we have embarked. Thereby I am hopeful that we shall
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160
/gradually -
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