TNAG-0065-FCO40-101-Local-intelligence-reports-1968 — Page 60

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NO. 349

SECRET

TOP COPY

SECRET

48

TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

RECEIVED.

18 MARCH 1966

p.a.

3

४

ADDRESSED CO TELEGRAM NO. 349 OF 18TH MARCH REPEATED PA SINGAPORE PEKING WASHINGTON AND HC CANBERRA.

FOR COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND CABINET OFFICE FOR JIC.

FOLLOWING FROM LIC.

WEEKLY ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION AS AT 0600 HOURS 18TH MARCH 1968 FOLLOWS IN TWO PARTS (PART 1 FOR CANBERRA).

PART 1.

THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE PERIOD HAVE BEEN:

CA) THE REFUSAL BY THE CPG TO ADMIT TO CHINA' TWO COMMUNIST FILM

STARS HELD IN DETENTION FOR CONFRONTATION OFFENCES SINCE JULY

1957, WHO WERE PRESENTED FOR REPATRIATION AT LOWU BRIDGE ON

14TH MARCH. THE REPATRIATES WERE RETURNED TO DETENTION ON 15TH

NARCH WHEN THEY LEFT THE BRIDGE AFTER SPENDING 27 HOURS THERE AND BOARDED A TRAIN FOR KOWLOON (TELEGRAMS 323, 338, 339

AND 342 REFER). THE LOCAL COMMUNIST PRESS HAS TRIED TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS EVENT AND HIGHLIGHTED THE CPG OFFICIAL PROTEST (TEL- EGRAMS 204 AND 207 REFER).

(B) AN INCIDENT ON THE 15TH MARCH WHEN 15 DUAL PURPOSE VEHICLE (D.P.V.) DRIVERS SURRROUNDED AND ASSUALTED TWO POLICE CONSTABLES TAKING SUMMONS ACTION AGAINST ONE OF THEM. SIX SHOTS WERE FIRED BY POLICE AND THE ASSAILANTS DISPERSED, APPARENTLY WITHOUT INJURY. THE D.P.V. DRIVER. INITIALLY INVOLVED WAS ARRESTED. EARLIER ON 12. TH MARCH, AN ORDERLY DELEGATION FROM THE MAJOR COMMUNIST TRANSPORTATION UNION VISITED POLICE HEADQUARTERS TO PROTEST AGAINST POLICE 'VICTIMISATION' OF D.P.V. DRIVERS.

(C) CONTINUED NEETINGS HELD BY COMMUNIST ORGANISATIONS

TO CONDEMN GOVERNMENT POLICY ON THE IMPORTATION OF 1 GIFT'

RICE, AND VISITS TO COVERNMENT OFFICES ON TWO OCCASIONS BY

A DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS (F.T.U.)

AND THE CHINESE GENERAL CHANDER OF COMMERCE (0.4.0.0.) TO

DELIVER PROTESTS ON THIS SUBJECT. A GOVERNENTY PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON 13TH MARCH, EXPLAINING THAT THE RICE COULD BE IMPORTED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE NORMAL VICE-CONTROL SYSTEM, AND WAIVING STORAGE OR MARKETING RESTRICTIONS, HAS BEEN

SECRET

/CRITICISED

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