TNAG-0031-FCO40-67-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 200

EN CLAIR

TRIORITY PEKING TO POREIGN OFFICE

TEINO 392

UNCLASSIFIED

7 MAY, 1968

ADDSD TO FO TEL NO 392 OF 7 MAY RFI HONG KONG (PRIORITY).

+

538

PEOPLE'S DAILY OF 6 MAY AND NCNA OF 5 MAY REPORT A STATEMENT

BY A SPOKESMAN OF THE KWANGTUNG SUPPORT COMPATRIOTS COMMITTEE

ACCUSING HONG KONG GOVT OF UNREASONABLY OBSTRUCTING DELIVERY

OF 5000 TONS OF GIFT RICE INTENDED FOR HONG KONG KOMPATRIOTS.

2. SPOKESMAN IS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT BRITISH TRIED TO TURN

RICE DONATION INTO SOMETHING COMMERCIAL TO OBLITERATE ITS

POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE. OTHER QUOTE VICIOUS ACTS UNQUOTE

"

IN RECENT MONTHS ALLEGEDLY INCLUDE REJECTION OF 1,000 SUITS OF

CLOTHING FOR COMMUNIST PRISONERS, CONTINUED ARRESTS AND PERSECUTIONS

AND OBSTRUCTION AND SABOTAGE OF DEMANDS TO RESUME WORK BY

CHINESE WORKERS WHO WERE ON STRIKE. SPOKESMAN SAID THIS SHOWED

PROFESSED WISH OF BRITISH HONG KONG AUTHORITIES TO EASE

SITUATION IN HONG KONG WAS SHEER HYPOCRISY.

3. SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE BRITISH DEMAND THAT THE RICE BE

IMPORTED THROUGH COMMERCIAL CHANNELS COULD NEVER BE ACCEPTED

}

BUT QUOTES IT CAN BE TAKEN INTO OUR CONSIDERATION THAT THE RICE

BE TRANSPORTED INTO HONG KONG BY BATCHES AT DIFFERENT TIMES UNQUOTE.

HONG KONG AUTHORITIES MUST STOP OBSTRUCTING DELIVERY OF RICE

AND PROMPTLY MAKE PROPER ARRANGMENTS, OTHERWISE QUOTE THEY WILL HAVE TO BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCIES

AR IS ING THEREFROM UNQUOTE.

SIR D. HOPSON

DEPART ENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.D.

S.E.A.D.

.I.R.D.

LAST

REC

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542

I.P.D.

GUIDANCE DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

C.O. .K.D.

DIS MOD

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