TNAG-0041-FCO40-77-Future-Sovereignty-of-Hong-Kong-Defence-Review-Working-Party-1967 — Page 43

CONFIDENTIAL

demand was only put forward when the Portuguese

showed signs of weakening on earlier demands.

2. Today, although the administration of the

Colony remains nominally in the hands of the

Portuguese, it is clear that their authority to

impose their will, at any rate on the local

communists, has almost entirely disappeared.

Thus:

(a) they were unwilling to give any effective

protection to the British Consulate when

it was besieged by demonstrators;

(b) they are unwilling to prevent the local commercial

radio station "Radio Vila Verde" from putting

out extremely hostile anti-British propaganda;

and

(c) the Governor apologised to the local communists

to secure the release of a Portuguese soldier

who had been "arrested" for his alleged

misbehaviour during an anti-British demon-

stration.

CONFIDENTIAL