TNAG-0066-FCO40-102-Local-intelligence-reports-1968 — Page 54

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(E) A FIVE DAY COMMUNIST SUPPORTED PARTIAL BOYCOTT OF A SMALL

COOPERATIVE FISH MARKET IN TH NEW TERRITORIES BY FISHERMEN

DEMANDING IMPROVEMENT IN CONDITIONS THERE.

(F) CONTINUED CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS BUT NO

MAJOR THEME. FLOATING EODIES, THE DEEP BAY ABDUCTIONS AND FACTIONAL

FIGHTING IN KWANG TUNG CONTINUE TO BE VIRTUALLY IGNORED.

(G) THE RELEASE OF TWO BRITISH MERCHANT MARINE OFFICERS FROM CHINA

HWD3/14 (TELEGRAM 848 REFERS). THERE HAS SO FAR BEEN NO REACTION TO THE

RELEASE OF TWO DETAINEES IN HONG KONG (TELEGRAMS 839, 849 AND

HUA/2862 REFER).

(H) THE DISCOVERY OF FURTHER BODIES, SOME BOUND, FLOATING IN THE

71 WATERS OF THE COLONY (PARA 1CB) OF TELEGRAM 8385. A TOTAL OF 34

BODIES HAVE NOW BEEN FOUND.

HWAY/

(I) 47 OF THE 71 FISHERFOLK ABDUCTED IN DEEP BAY (TELEGRAMS 834/6

REFER) RETURNED TO B.T. ON (TH JULY. WHILST IN C.T. ALL WERE

REQUIRED TO ATTEND POLITICAL STUDY SESSIONS: THEY WERE ACCUSED OF

FAILING TO REGISTER THEIR BOATS, OF STEALING OYSTERS AND FISH AND

OF ASSISTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. DURING THE LAST WEEK ALL 28

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED HAD SWUM FROM CHINA ACROSS EITHER MIRS

OR DEEP BAYS.

(J) RELATIVE QUIET ON THE LAND BORDER: INTERMITTENT ANTI-BRITISH

LOUDSPEAKER BROADCASTS AND CHANTING BY CHINA BOUND PASSENGERS AT

LO WU. PRODUCE ENTERING THE COLONY BY RAIL WAS SLIGHTLY BELOW

AVERAGE BUT OTHEF. SOURCES OF SUPPLY WERE NORMAL.

2. THE ABANDONMENT OF THE REINSTATEMENT CAMPAIGN AS SUCH NOW SEEMS

ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. THE REACTION OF MANY OF THE 'STRIKERS'

INVOLVED MAY WELL BE HOSTILE, PARTICULARLY IN FIELDS WHERE REEMPLOY-

MENT WILL BE DIFFICULT, OR CONSIDERABLE BENEFITS HAVE BEEN LOST:

THE LARGE NUMBER INVOLVED IN THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY, WHERE

THERE ARE SOME 4,000 'STRIKERS', NO DOUBT ACCOUNTS FOR THE DELAY IN

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