SECRET
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 349 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
-3-
VIOLENCE BUT THE KEY LIES IN THE DEGRE. OF CONTROL THEY ARE
LE TO EXCERCISE OVER THE RANK AND FILE SEMICOLON AT PRESENT
THIS SEEMS TO BE REASONABLY EFFECTIVE BUT THERE MAY BE AN
INCREASE IN MINOR INCIDENTS ARISING OUT OF CHALLENGES TO
AUTHORITY BY COMMUNIST SUPPORTERS.
3. THE RIGHT WING AND NEUTRAL PRESS ON THE FILM STARS HAVE
EMPHASISED THE REFUSAL BY HE CPG AUTHORITIES TO ACCEPT
THEM AND POINTED OUT THE LACK OF ANY WELCOME ' FOR THEM ON THE CHINESE SIDE. TO A CONSIDERABLE EXTENT, THERE REACTION HAS NEUTRALISED THE EFFECTS OF THE COMMUNIST CLAIMS OF A ·
'VICTORY'.
4. IT IS NOW APPARENT THAT THE COMMUNISTS ARE ONLY PREPARED TO
IMPORT THE GIFT RICE ON THEIR OWN TERMS, AND THEIR RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASE, EXPLAINING THE CONCESSIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN MADE, BRINGS INTO QUESTION THE SINCERITY
OF THIS GIFT. IT COULD WELL BE THAT WHILE THE RICE MAY BE
AVAILABLE FOR IMPORT, THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES ARE HAVING
SECOND THOUGHTS CONCERNING THE EFFECT SUCH A LARGE SHIPMENT, FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION, COULD HAVE ON THEIR OWN COMMERC I AL
SALES IN THE COLONY.
FOREIGN OFFICE PASS TO PEKING 120, WASHINGTON 35 AND CANBERRA 28, SIR D. TRENCH
[REPETITION TO PEKING REFERRED FOR DEPARTMENTAL DECISION, REPEATED AS REQUESTED TO OTHER POSTS AND TO CABINET OFFICE FOR JIC]
FILES C.0.
F.0.
H.K.D.
I. & G.D.
J:I.R.D.
F.E. & P.D.
SIR A. GALSWORTHY
MR. HALL
P.S. TO SECRETARY OF STATE
P.U.S.
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
P.S. TO MINISTER OF STATE (LORD SHEPHERD)
HEAD OF P.A.D.
F.E.D.
SIR D. ALLEN
MR. WILKINSON
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPT.
SECRET
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