As
the positions they occupied before confrontation.
mentioned previously there have been no additional
C.C.A. Forces deployed on the border facing British
Territory.
GENERAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE EXTERNAL THREAT
18.
Fighting between rival factions continues in
a number of areas of Kwangtung Province, and although
there have been only few reports of large scale clashes,
there is still a risk of this strife extending to the
border area, if the C.C.A. fails to enforce strict
control. Recently there have been some indications of
factional differences in Shum Chun but so far these have
not extended beyond heated verbal exchanges. Factionalism
could, however, develop and spread through the farmers into British Territory. There is also a possibility,
be it remote, of such differences openly emerging between
rival groups within the Colony boundaries, thus affecting
conditions in the villages on both sides of the border.
The formation of the Kwang tung Provincial Revolutionary
Committee, on the 21st February, could herald a period of
greater stability within the area but this is by no means
certain if the example of other Provinces can be taken as
a reasonable guide. The fact that its formation was
delayed for several weeks provides some evidence of the
continued differences existing between the many factions.
19.
The 1967 harvests in Kwangtung Province, with
the exception of a few counties, are reported to have
been generally good. Despite this, recent reports from
the province tell of commodity shortages, caused by a
partial breakdown of State control and distribution
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