TNAG-0053-FCO40-89-Communist-activities-in-schools-1968 — Page 37

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

CONFIDENTIAL

Cypher/Cat A

PRIORITY PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno. 862 17 September, 1968

CONFIDENTIAL

69

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Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 862 of 17 September. Repeated for information to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong telegrams Nos. 1067 and 1076: Communist Schools. I am puzzled to see that although only four new Communist schools have been registered 21 are operating. Presumably this is because practice referred to in para 6 of telegram No. 1067 of starting classes before applying for registration. It seems a regrettable practice since it deprives us of all weapons for delay which would otherwise be . at our disposal. More important, it blurs the line between proposed and existing schools. Refusal of registration for a school already operating could easily be represented by Communist propaganda as closure of an existing school and there would be greater danger in applying the law and evicting pupils and staff. The Hon Wah school at Aberdeen is a case in point. It would seem very much in our interests to close whatever legal loopholes exist so as to prevent schools in future operating at all until registration had been granted. This might also deter owners from leasing premises to schools until it was known whether registration would be granted. 2. I note that non-Communist children are not being greatly attracted to Communist schools at present and that the Communists disbelievingly do not yet have sufficient places for children of their own. The figures for new Communist schools programme would therefore seem to reflect naturel expansion to meet the needs of existing Communists rather than the successful proselytising of non-Communist youth.

Foreign Office pass Priority Hong Kong.

Mr. Cradock.

Repeated as requested

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