TNAG-0065-FCO40-101-Local-intelligence-reports-1968 — Page 85

SECRET

HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.243 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

4

MEETINGS WITH GOVERNMENT AND THE STATEMENT'S IN THE LOCAL

COMMUNIST PRESS SUGGEST THAT MOUNTING PRESSURE WILL BE APPLIED

IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE IN AN ATTEMPT TO FORCE GOVERNMENT

TO REVERSE ITS DECISION. THE POSSIBLE IMPENDING WITHDRAWAL

* OF STRIKE PAY, AT LEAST IN THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY, COULD OF

COURSE HAVE FAR REACHING REPERCUSSIONS IF IT WAS TO BECOME

GENERAL IN OTHER FIELDS. HOWEVER, IT IS PROBABLE THAT, AT THIS

STAGE, THE COMMUNISTS ARE MERELY TESTING THE REACTION OF

WORKERS TO SUCH A MOVE AND HAVE SELECTED, FOR THIS PURPOSE,

ONE SECTION OF THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY INVOLVING ONLY 200

PEOPLE.

5. THERE IS NOTHING TO SUGGEST THAT THE FORMATION OF THE

K.P.R.C. WILL AFFECT, IN ANY WAY, CHINA'S POLICY TOWARDS

HONG KONG, HOWEVER THE ENTHUSIASM AND INCREASED

CONFIDENCE WHICH IT HAS ENGENDERED LOCALLY MUST BE EXPECTED

TO RESULT IN MINOR INCIDENTS WHICH COULD QUICKLY ESCALATE.

ONE OF THE MAIN PROBLEMS FOR GOVERNMENT IN THE IMMEDIATE

FUTURE IS LIKELY TO BE DEALING WITH GROUPS OF COMMUNISTS

WHO, ALTHOUGH IN TECHNICAL BREACH OF THE LAW, ARE NOT COMMITTING

SERIOUS OFFENCES. THESE GROUPS, PARTICULARLY IF THEY INCREASE

ICULARLY

NTION

THEIR ACTIVITIES, ARE CALLING ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES IN A

POTENTIALY DANGEROUS MANNER AND CREATE A DIFFICULT PROBLEM

FOR THE POLICE. AS ALWAYS IN HONG KONG, CROWDS CAN QUICKLY

GROW AND INTRANSIGENCE INCREASE SPONTANEOUSLY.

CO PLEASE PASS POLAD SINGAPORE 30 AND WASHINGTON 26.

SIR D. TRENCH

FILES:

CO:

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]. [PASSED CABINET OFFICE]

H.K. DEPT

INT. & G.D.

SIR A. GALSWORTHY MR. HALL-

ADVANCE COPIES SENT:

EO: F.E.D. O.L.A.

J.I.R.D.

F.E.P.D.

DEFENCE DEPT

P.S. TO MINISTER OF STATE O.P.A.

(LORD SHEPHERD)

-

DIS M.O.D.

SECRET