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As apponed by be A Forma
d Fo
DRAFT HINITE TO THE PRIME MINISTER FROM MR. GEORGE
THOMAS, MUIETER OF STAT
The main features at present in the situation in Hong Kong
are as follows.
2.
Reporta
71
indicate that the Chinese ultimatum of August 20th about releasing
Communist journalists and stopping legal action against three Commuri at
launches newspapers Was tulsas în response to an appeal from the Communist leader-
ship in Hong Kong, whose morale is very low as a result of the fir
measures taken locally, to show more solidarity with their cause. Although
this is the first time the Chinese have issued an ultimatum over Hong Kong,
we do not consider that it indicates any basic change in their policy
towards the Colony or to recent events there; we noo it as a further nove to giving strong propaganda support to the local Comunists without
directly intervening on their behalf.
3.
The
We think we can probably regard the sacking of our Embassy in Peking
an the main Chinese reaction to our rejection of the ultimatum.
authorities in Hong Kong are ready for an intensification of Communist
activity in the Colony, which, if it comes, in likely to take the form of
a stepping-up of violent incidents in the Colony, demonstrations in the
Courts when the journaliste come up for trial, and possibly also further
incidents on the border, A deliberate stoppage of food supplies is also
seen as a possibility.
4. So far, however, there has been little change in the situation in
Hong Kong. The frontier remains quiet; there has been no repetition of
earlier inoidents. Within the Colony, Communist activity has been limited
to sporadic "bomb" incidents and unsuccessful attempts to paralyse the
working of the port.
3(4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958 IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED THIS IS A COPY
/5. A most
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