TNAG-0065-FCO40-101-Local-intelligence-reports-1968 — Page 98

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23 JAN 1968

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IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Telno 98 22 January, 1968

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Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 98 of 22 January Repeated for information to:- Singapore, Washington and

Canberra.

For Commonwealth Office and Cabinet Office for JIC.

Following from LIC weekly assessment of the situation as at 22 January 1968, 0600 hours follows. The principal features of the confrontation during the period have been:-

(a) The cessation of bomb activity.

were received.

Say

(b)

(c)

(a)

8991'50

No bomb reports

In response to the arms and explosives amnesty which commenced on 15 January 1968, a number of fireworks, weapons, and ammunition have been surrendered. There is nothing to indicate that any of these items have originated from Communist

sources.

An incident on the 19 January in which police were forced to use tear gas and baton shells to disperse a hostile crowd of about 300 which gathered outside a police station to demand the release of the drive of a lorry carrying Chinese produce who had been arrested for obstruction and assault. The crowd threw stones at police and assaulted a newspaper photographer. (Telegram No. 94) representatives of the major Communist Transport Workers' Union visited the police headquarters the next day to present several demands, including the release of the driver.

Further meetings at Communist Unions to propagate the Works of Mao, to discuss wage increase demands and to organise comfort visits' to the families of members killed, injured, imprisoned or unemployed as a result of confrontation.Officials of one major bus workers' union have informed members that current negotiations

over confrontation between Britain and Peking would result in their reinstatement with full back pay, but at two other union meetings members were instructed to ignore rumours that Peking wishes to become friendly with Britain and to continue the struggle' Represent- atives of Communist unions paid a further visit to Labour Department and on this occasion they displayed

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