342
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7.5.
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Cypher/Cat A
SECRET
PRIORITY HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (DTD)
Telno 1351 6 September, 1967
SECRET
Your Saving despatch No.2 of 16.8.67:
TOP COPY
HW
Communist Schools.
Please see paragraph 5 of my telegram No.1285 and the last sentence of paragraph 4 of my telegram No.1317. In view of your telegram No.1783 I am replying by telegram.
2.
Political activity in these schools has increased during 1967 and reached an excessive pitch by the end of last term. Police raids on school premises which started in the middle of July, showed them stocked with crude weapons, inflammatory documents, etc. Extensive holiday political activities were planned. Consideration was given to closing the schools, but as holiday activities did not materalize a letter was sent on 17 August by Director of Education to 9 schools informing them of conditions to be complied with when term starts. Text follows by Priority Saving despatch.
3. A letter was sent on 29 August to the Chung Wah Middle school informing them that inspectors will call on 7 September. The school operates in a new building which, though registrable, has not yet been registered. Text follows by Priority Saving despatch.
4. Reaction to these moves in the Communist Press has been hostile but the subject was often lumped in with others. The demonstration on 26 August and a meeting at the Pui Kiu School on 30 August were concerned principally with the conditions in the Director's letter of 17 August.
5.
When inspectors visit the Chung Wah school on 7 September, they will not be aggressive but is possible that they will be refused admission or that the school will demonstrate defiance of the law in some marked way. It may then be necessary to take prompt action to close the school.
6. There are some 12,000 children in Communist primary schools, 6,000 in middle schools, 200 in kindergarten and 1,500 in vocational training classes. Until this year they overtly complied with the regulations and were reasonably cooperative with school inspectors. In recent months no inspections have been made, largely to avoid open confrontation and in the hope that during the holidays the situation might quieten down. This has not occurred and, unless we were to ignore these subversive activities entirely, action on the lines now taken is the least we could have done. It has to be recognized, nevertheless, that in the long term we may be forced into closing some or even all these schools.
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