0003160 G.F. 316
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placards around it with an inscription in Chinese to the effect that it belonged to the Shek Ha Oyster Froduction Team of Fu Shing Commune. The oystermen from British Territory then working on the bed were told to board a communist junk where they were made to sing communist songs. They were instructed to mark out their plots and told that although they would be allowed to farm the seedlings which they had already planted there, after the oysters matured they would not be permitted to SOW any fresh seedlings. The communist fishermen removed 24 boatloads of oysters from the bed before leaving. On 19th December, 42 oystermen from British territory went to No. 5 bed and marked out the areas where their seedlings were planted. At the same time, two of their representatives handed a list of the oystermen from British territory operating on the bed to commune representatives. No further incidents took place. Repeated attempts by the District Officer, Yuen Long, to hold discussions with representatives of the Shek Ha Commune have so far failed. Representations made in Peking have however met with a fairly encouraging response and apparent acceptance by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the view that the matter should be settled locally.
5.
TANG Kau Chai (6772/0046/0098), manager of the Yu Wo Tong, Lau Fau Shan, a company which controls the No. 1 oyster bed (over which there is a quite separate dispute with the Sha Cheng Commune) and also purchases oysters from the farmers on No. 5 bed (L.I.C. report for October, 1966, paragraph 3 refers), is reported to have consulted a solicitor with a view to claiming compensation from the Hong Kong Government for losses incurred during the dispute as a result of Government's lack of protection over the oyster beds. TANG informed the District Officer, Yuen Long, by letter, that he would proceed with this action on 21st December, unless the Hong Kong Government took some positive action against the communist oyster breeders or came to some amicable agreement with them so that he could continue his business in peace. /lthough no agreement has been reached, TANG had not yet proceeded with his claim by the end of the month.
6.
In the border area, a number of farmers living in Lin Ma Hang village in British territory, who own land in Chinese territory and are permitted to cross the border to farm their land, were recently informed that they would be required to attend indoctrination sessions each month in Chinese territory. Failure to do so would result in the forfeiture of their rights to farm their land across the border. The villagers accordingly elected two representatives through whom the communists could pass instructions. The Chinese authorities decided that the farmers would be required to attend three sessions a month. The representatives disagreed with this and suggested that one session a month was sufficient and they are now awaiting a reply. This move is in keeping with the generally more militant policy now being adopted by communes in the border area in their dealings with farmers and fishermen from British territory. Although the coolies at Man Kam To (L.I.C. re ort for November, 1966, paragraph 3 refers) have continued to cross the border singing songs and carrying slogans and numerous boards have appeared in the fields along the frontier bearing anti-imperialist slogans, none of which are directed against the Hong Kong authorities, the frontier area has been generally quiet throughout the month.
7.
On 30th December the local left-wing newspapers and the People's Daily in Peking carried a New China News Agency item of 29th December which alleged that the British Government was supporting and conniving at the U.S. imperialists" increased use of Hong Kong as a base for aggression, as witnessed by the number of U.S. naval vessels (390) which had visited the Colony up to mid-December compared with the number (340) for the whole of last
The item concluded that the "Chinese people and compatriots
accurate year.
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