0003160 G.F. 316
SECRET
gors
SAVINGRAM
27
From:
The Governor, Hong Kong.
Repeated:
To:
The Secretar of State for
Commonwealth Affairs
P.A. to C. in C.F.E.
49
Peking
46
No.:
552
Tansui
19
Date:
24th November, 1967
Manila
15
III
Ref.:
TS 2/57
C. in C. Far East
M.181
L.I.C. MONTHLY EXTERNAL INTELLIGENCE REPORT
JULY, 1967
1.
Information available in Hong Kong showed that the increasing divisions and strife that affected China during the month were reflected in Kwangtung Province where disorder was common and serious fighting between rival factions occurred. The chief cause of disorder in the first three weeks of the month was the behaviour of marauding Red Guards (R.G.s) from Northern and Central provinces visiting Canton. According to travellers, their thieving and murderous conduct earned then the enmity of the local people, with whom they had regular clashes.
2.
The repercussions of the Sha Tau Kok incident of 6th July (Part I paragraph 5 refers) were felt in Canton on the same evening when loudspeakers reported that one hundred casualties had been caused by the Hong Kong Police. This type of propaganda had a disturbing effect and anti-British feeling was raised to a high pitch. The militia, who had been represented in the incident, were particularly incensed and there were reports from travellers that groups heading for the border were stopped by the P.L.A. Following a large anti- British demonstration in Canton on 10th July man: R.G.s went to Canton Railway Station and tried to board a train for Hong Kong, again to be stopped by the P.L.A.
3.
Reports of anti-MO activit continued to be received from the Swatow and (c) Waiyoung (m) ui Yang area. Near Swatow ten F.L.A. personnel on checkpoint duty were reported to have been injured by grenades thrown by anti-i110 elements and in Waiyeung, electric power stations were said to have been destroyed.
4.
However, these incidents were eclipsed by the events of the last third of the month. On 23rd July large scale street fighting developed in Canton. A particularly violent clash occurred at the Sun Yat Sen (Chungshan) Memorial Hall when two disputing factions were locked in what one source described as the "greatest armed struggle since the Liberation". Despite a call by Kwangtung Radio on 24th July for an end to violence, serious fighting between pro-MAO Tse Tung and pro-LIU Shao Chi elements took place on that and the succeeding day. Heavy casualties, including many deaths, were caused. The intial reason for the fighting is said to have been the billing of posters announcing the safe return to Peking of HSIEH Fu Chih, the Public Security Minister and WANG Li, the Director of the Propaganda Department, from Wuhan on 22nd July. Reports of fighting continued until the end of the month, although on a lesser scale than on 23rd, 24th and 25th July. Considerable reinforcements for the pro-10 forces were reported to have moved into Canton from other areas in the province although the chief participants in the clashes were R.G.s allied with pro-140 railway workers against pro-LIU railway workers. Disputes between these two groups are known to have started on about 17th July, but serious disruption to rail traffic did not occur until 24th July, when no trains reached the Hong Kong border from Canton. Only a limited service was maintained throughout the remainder of the month and disruption of rail services between Canton and other parts of China vas also reported.
SECRET
15. Fighting
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