TNAG-0065-FCO40-101-Local-intelligence-reports-1968 — Page 43

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HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 447 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

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UNION STATEMENT CONDEMNING, GOVERNMENT FOR OBSTRUCTING THE REINSTATE-

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MENT OF TAXI DRIVERS (CB) ABOVE). A REPORT OF A MASS RALLY HELD

IN SHUM CHUN C T ON 6TH APRIL IN PRAISE OF THE ANTI BRITISH STRUGGLE

IN THE BORDER AREA, AT WHICH CONTINUED SUPPORT WAS PLEDGED FOR

THE COMPATRIOTS IN HONG KONG, WAS ALSO GIVEN CONSIDERABLE PROMINENCE.

CH) COMMEMORATION MEETINGS HELD BY COMMUNIST UNIONS FOR 'MARTYRS'

KILLED DURING CONFRONTATION, AND VISITS BY SMALL GROUPS TO THEIR

GRAVES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES DURING THE CHING MING FESTIVAL. ON

1ST APRIL NEAR LO WU, RESIDENTS FROM C T CARVED LARGE ANTI-

IMPERIALIST SLOGANS ON HILLSIDES IN B T WHICH WERE LATER OBLITERATED

WITHOUT INCIDENT BY BRITISH PERSONNEL (TELEGRAM 415 REFERS) THE

CARVING IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN INSTIGATED BY MILITANT MEMBERS OF A

PRODUCTION BRIGADE IN THE BORDER AREA WHO INTENDED IT TO BE A

PROPAGANDA MOVE AIMED AT URBAN AREA VISITORS DURING THE CHING MING

FESTIVAL. AT A PREVIOUS MEETING THEY HAD CLAIMED THEY WOULD PROTEST

AGAINST ANY ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE SLOGANS, BUT IN THE EVENT NO

FURTHER ACTION WAS TAKEN (BUT SEE PARA 5 BELOW.)

(1) A MARKED REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

ENTERING THE COLONY: A TOTAL OF 14 WERE ARRESTED DURING THE WEEK.

2. THE PUBLIC STATEMENT BY THE COMMUNIST TRANSPORT UNION BLAMING

GOVERNMENT FOR THE FAILURE OF TAXI DRIVERS TO FIND RE-EMPLOYMENT IS

THE FIRST OVERT ADMISSION BY THE COMMUIST LABOUR MOVEMENT THAT

THEY ARE ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULTIES. HOWEVER THIS ACCUSATION IS

IN LINE WITH RECENT STATEMENTS BY LEADERS OF THIS UNION TO THE

EFFECT THAT PRESSURE WOULD BE BROUGHT TO BEAR ON GOVERNMENT

CONCERNING REINSTATEMENT. THE ALLEGATION THAT CHINA WOULD STOP

TRADING WITH BRITAIN IF WORKERS WERE NOT REINSTATED IS IN THE SAME

VEIN, BUT THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN REPEATED IN ANY OTHER

UNION AND IT SEEMS HIGHLY IMPROBABLE THAT THE THREAT

REGARDING TRADE HAS ANY OFFICIAL SUPPORT FROM THE MAINLAND. THE

/INTENTION OF

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