TNAG-0065-FCO40-101-Local-intelligence-reports-1968 — Page 92

CYPHER/CAT A

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES NO 23-

COFEB 1968

Mein isly

IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM-NUMBER 153.

SECRET

SECRET

35

TOP COPY

TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

5 FEBRUARY 1968

HW

ADDRESSED CO TELEGRAM NO. 153 OF 5TH FEBRUARY REPEATED SINGAPORE

WASHINGTON AND CANBERRA.

FOR COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND CABINET OFFICE FOR JIC. FOLLOWING

FROM LIC WEEKLY ASSESSMENT OF SITUATION AS AT 5TH FEBRUARY

1968, 0600 HOURS FOLLOWS. THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE COMMUNIST CONFRONTATION DURING THE PERIOD HAVE BEEN:

(A) THE CONTINUED ABSENCE OF BOMB REPORTS. THE GOVERNMENT

BAN ON THE USE OF FIREWORKS PROVED EFFECTIVE DURING THE CELEBRATION OF CHINESE CLUNAR NEW YEAR ON 30TH, 31ST JANUARY AND 1ST

FEBRUARY.

(B) THE PUBLICATION ON 29TH JANUARY, IN THE LOCAL COMMUNIST PRESS,

3

OF A COMFORT LETTER' TO LOCAL COMMUNISTS ISSUED BY THE 'KWANG-

TUNG PROVINCIAL SUPPORT HONG KONG COMPATRIOTS COMMITTEE'

REITERATING SUPPORT FOR CONFRONTATION AND AMOUNCING A DONATION

OF 5.000 TONS OF RICE AND 1,000 SUITS OF WINTER CLOTHING.

*

(TELEGRAM NO. 137 REFERS). AT A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

OF THE FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS (F.T.U.), HELD NEXT DAY,

i

TO DISCUSS THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE RICE TO 'NEEDY RESIDENTS' AND

THE CLOTHING TO INMATES OF STANLEY PRISON, IT WAS AGREED THAT

THE CHINESE RED CROSS SHOULD BE ASKED TO COME TO HONG KONG

J

AND BRING DOCTORS TO EXAMINE PRISONERS DURING THE ISSUE OF

CLOTHING. IT WAS ALSO AGREED THAT THE HATTER SHOULD BE GIVEN

MAXIMUM PUBLICITY AND REGISTRATION SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN BY

AFFILIATED UNIONS OF PERSONS QUALIFYING FOR ASSISTANCE, NANELY

WORKERS ON STRIKE, UNEMPLOYED WORKERS AND DEPENDENTS OF 'VICTIMISED'

WORKERS.

(C) FURTHER MEETINGS HELD BY COMMUNIST UNIONS AND ORGANISATIONS

TO STUDY THE WORKS OF MAO, ORGANISE COMFORT VISITS' TO THE

UNEMPLOYED AND OTHER VICTIMS OF GOVERNEMENT PERSECUTION' AND

SECRET

/TO

PA

6.2.69