TNAG-0065-FCO40-101-Local-intelligence-reports-1968 — Page 94

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HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 153 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

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الشكل

3

Chop

V

3. REPORTS FROM KWANGTUNG PROVINCE INDICATE THAT EFFORTS

CONTINUE TO BE MADE TO ESTABLISH A PROVINCIAL REVOLUTIONARY

COMMITTEE BUT THAT FACTIONAL CLUSHES IN A NUMBER OF CITIES ARE

DELAYING THIS NOVE. THE EXODUS TO CHINA OF A NUMBER OF SENIOR

OFFICIALS OF LOCAL CPG ORGANISATIONS, SOME OF WHOM HAVE ONLY

ORNED

RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A PROTRACTED STAY THERE, MAY BE CONNECTED

WITH THE FORMATION OF THIS COMMITTEE,

4. THE OFFER OF RICE AND CLOTHING IS UNDOUBTEDLY A MAJOR MOVÉ

BY THE AUTHORITIES IN CHINA TO DEMONSTRATE TO LOCAL COMMUNISTS,

THE POPULATION OF THE COLONY AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THAT

CHINA STILL SUPPORTS THE CONFRONTATION STRUGGLE. IT WILL, OF

COURSE, ALSO SERVE AS VALUABLE PROPAGANDA MATERIAL TO BOOST

THE MORALE OF COMMUNIST RANK AND FILE, AND THE INITIAL STAGES

OF A MAJOR CAMPAIGN ARE NOW, UNDER WAY IN AN ATTEMPT TO FORCE

GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW THE IMPORTATION OF THE RICE OUTSIDE THE

QUOTA AND NORMAL CHANNELS. IT IS NOT YET CLEAR WHETHER THE

KWANGTUNG AUTHORITIES WILL ACCEPT THE F.T.U. PROPOSAL THAT OFFICIALS

SHOULD BE SENT TO SUPERVISE ANY DISTRIBUTION, BUT SHOULD THEY

DO SO THIS COULD PRESENT PROBLEMS FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

FO PLEASE PASS WASHINGTON AS MY TELNO 17 AND CANBERRA AS MY TELNO 10.

SIR D. TRENCH

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED] [ADVANCE COPY TO CABINET OFFICE]

FILES

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

C.O. HONG KONG DEPT.

I. & G. DEPT.

F.E. & P.D.

J.I.P.G.D.

J.I.R.D.

SIR A. GALSWORTHY

MR. HALL

P.S. TO MINISTER OF STATE (LORD SHEPHERD)

F.O. FAR EASTERN DEPT.

O.L.A.

O.P.A.

MR. WILKINSON

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