TNAG-0053-FCO40-89-Communist-activities-in-schools-1968 — Page 41

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HONG KONG T LAGRAM NO. 1067 TO COMMON TEALTH OFFICE

3

REMISES, E.G. A RECENT CASE IN WHICH THE SCHOOL IS HOUSED NEAR

A DANGEROUS GOODS STORE AND IS IN OTHER WAYS A FIRE HAZARD. WE

CAN SOMETIMES APPROACH THE OWNERS OF PREMISES (USUALLY THROUGH INTERMEDIARIES AND SO FAR WITHOUT MUCH SUCCESS) AND TRY TO PERSUADE THEM NOT TO LEASE TO NEW COMMUNIST SCHOOLS. IN GENERAL, HOWEVER, EVERY CASE HAS TO BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY

OP EN ING FOR ACTION.

6. CURBING EXISTING SCHOOLS WOULD INVOLVE MORE RIGOROUS APPLICATION

OF THE ORDINANCE, BUT NOT MORE RIGOROUS APPLICATION THAN WOULD

BE IMPOSED ON OTHER SCHOOLS. MUCH WOULD DEPEND ON THE GROUNDS GIVEN

FOR ACTION AGAINST IT BY THE SCHOOL CONCERNED IN EACH PARTICULAR CASE. IT COULD ALSO MEAN REFUSING REGISTRATION, WHERE REFUSAL WAS JUSTIFIABLE, TO SCHOOLS WHICH HAD NOT APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION

AT ALL AND HAD COME TO NOTICE, OR TO SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE ACTUALLY STARTED CLASSES BEFORE APPLYING FOR REGISTRATION. THIS IS A COMMON PRACTICE AMONGST ALL SCHOOLS HERE, FOR TECHNICAL REASONS CONNECTED WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE. THE

SCHOOL MENTIONED IN PARAGRAPH 5 IS A CASE IN POINT.

7. I HAVE NOT CONSIDERED WHAT FURTHER ACTION MIGHT BE TAKEN IF

PUBLIC PRESSURE INCREASES. WHILE APPREHENSION IS STILL WIDESPREAD, THE PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT IS FOR THE MOMENT SPORADIC AND NOT

MOUNTING TOO RAPIDLY. THIS, HOWEVER, MAY CHANGE.

8. I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH CARTER ON THE ABOVE LINES.

F.O. PLEASE PASS ROUTINE PEKING.

SIR. D. TRENCH. [REPETITION TO PEKING REFERRED FOR DEPARTMENTAL

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

DECISION]

C.O.

H.K.D.

F.E. & P.D.

DEFENCE DEPT.

O.P.A.

F.0.

NEWS DIET.

F.E.D.

DEFENCE DEPT.

P.U.S.D.

NEWS DEPT. DIS M.O.D.

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