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Mr. de la Mare
LAU FAU SHAN INCIDENT
Hong Kong telegrams Nos. 316 and 338 to Commonwealth
2073
office report an inci'ent which began on 27 February when
members of a Commune in mainland China pursued eight of their
compatriots who had entered Hong Kong Territory by boat at
Lau Fau Shan and attempted to secure their return to China.
The Hong Kong authorities gave the standard reply that the
matter was being investigated and if it was decided to
repatriate the party they would be sent via the normal
crossing at Lowu.
In fact the eight refugees were allowed to
stay in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Special Branch then
expressed to their contect in the New China News Agency
their concern about the high-handed action of the pursuing
Chinese. Despite this, rembers of the Commune returned to
Lau Fau Shan on 9 March and made noisy representations at
the police station. The Governor is concerned that these
incursions may continue, perhaps on a larger and more militant
scale. Paragraph of Hong Kong telegram No. 338 raises the
question as to whether we should ensure that the Central
Government in Peking are aware of the position and of the
messages which have been sent through intermediaries to the
Chinese provincial authorities before firm action is taken
against future mainland demonstrators.
2. In Peking telegram No. 297, H.M. Chargé d'Affaires says
he thinks that Peking are probably aware of what is going on
and that for various reasons they re anxious to avoid
RECEIVED provoking a major incident at this time. On balance, he is ARCHIVES N~.53
in favour of trying to settle the matter locally, but
20 MARV
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