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Cypher/Cat A
HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
IMMEDIATE
Telno. 1904
TOP SECRET
23 December 1967
Addressed Peking telegram No. 673 of 23 December Repeated Commonwealth Öffice.
My telegram No. 652: [1833 to C.o.]
CPG policy towards HK.
has now provided a clear indication that there has been a new policy directive from China to the effect that the Communists in HK would, in future, engage only in 'political struggle' against the British, and that violence would cease. There would be no more bomb incidents,
2.
some leading Communists
had been opposed to this change in policy. However, it had now been decided that all policy for Hong Kong and Macau would be handled directly by the 'Central' (Presumably the Central Committee of the CCP or at least the Central authorities in Peking), and he had now to discuss with his cadres how to put over the directive to their subordinates. The Press would henceforth concentrate on propaganda while avoiding exaggeration. Ho suggested finally that some negotiations were necessary, presumably with HK Government, and that our attitude to KMT organisations might be a point at issue.
3.
Please destroy as before,
Foreign Office please pass Immediate to Peking as my telegram 673.
Sir D. Trench
(Repetition to Peking referred for
departmental decision)
eferred
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CO. H.K. Dept.
Pol. Affairs Dept.
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Mr Gamihara (Remi on 21/1/68)
Mr Carter (ve ser
28/12
To see please
R. Stainton
22
PA
2.168.
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL SO BEEN RETAINED
IN THE DISPARTIAL. UNDER SECTION 3(4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958
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