551
RECEIVED IN ADCHIVES No. 63
14 MAY 1968
TOP GOP :
EN CLAIR
PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
TELEGRAM NO. 426
UNCLASSIFIED
HWD Th
13 MAY, 1968
HW
ADDSD TO FO TEL NO 426 OF 13 MAY RFI PRIORITY TO HONG KONG
"
AND ROUTINE TO WASHINGTON AND POLAD SPORE.
PEOPLE'S DAILY OF 12 MAY CARRIES A REPORT OF
CNCNA NO 051012) OF PROTESTS IN HONG KONG ABOUT ALLEGED OBSTRUCTION
OF THE ENTRY OF THE 5,000 TONS OF RICE.
2. THE REPORT SAYS THAT STATEMENTS PROTESTING ABOUT THE OBSTRUCTION
HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY THE HONG KONG-KOWLOON ALL CIRCLES STRUGGLE
COMMITTEE AND THE HONG KONG -KOWLOON FEDERATION OF TRADES UNIONS.
THE STATEMENTS SAID THAT THE DELAY IN THE ARRIVAL OF THE RICE
WAS DUE TO DELIBERATE OBSTRUCTION BY THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES.
QUOTE VERBALLY THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES HAD TO ADMIT THAT THE
RICE WAS NON-COMMERCIAL BUT THEY REQUIRED THAT ONLY THE APPOINTED.
REGISTERED RICE MERCHANTS WERE ALLOWED TO HANDLE THE IMPORT
•
O
PROCEDURES THIS WAS AN ATTEMPT TO CHANG THE DONATED RICE INTO
COMMERCIAL RICE SO AS TO DO AWAY WITH ITS POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE
UNQUOTE. STATEMENT WARNED THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES THAT QUOTES
APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE MADE FOR THE IMMEDIATE ENTRY
OF THE RICE INTO HONG KONG IF THEY INSISTED ON BEING DIE-HARD
THEY WOULD COME TO NO GOOD END UNQUOTE.
3. THE REPORT ALSO SAID THAT WORKERS ON STRIKE, UNEMPLOYED
AND SEMI-EMPLOYED WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WENT TO THE
COLONIAL SECRETARIAT AND COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPT IN THE LAST
FEW DAYS TO PROTEST.
MR. HOPSON
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
C.O. H.K.D.
F.0. F.E.D.
pia.
16
C.O. O.T.D.
O.L.A.
F.E.P.D.
F.O. S.E.A.D.
DIS M.O.D.
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