TNAG-0066-FCO40-102-Local-intelligence-reports-1968 — Page 72

SECRET

ɔNG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 743 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

SG A CHANGE IN ADVERTISING POLICY BY A LEADING COMMUNIST

NEWSPAPER WHICH, IN AN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE REVENUE, HAS DECIDED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE MAY, 1967 TO ACCEPT ADVERTISEMENTS

FOR AMERICAN FILMS AND FROM LOCAL COMPANIES DEALING IN AMERICAN

.AND BRITISH PRODUCTS.

CH) VISITS BY SMALL GROUPS OF FARMERS FROM C.T. TO LOWU POLICE

POST TO VOICE DISSATISFACTION WITH THE TERMS OF THE REPLY TO THEIR 66 EARLIER DEMANDS CPARAGRAPH (A) OF TELEGRAM NO. 715 REFERS).

SEVERAL LOUDSPEAKER BROADCASTS WERE ALSO MADE FROM C.T. SUPPORTING THEIR DEMANDS AND INCLUDING NEW ONES CONCERNING THE REMOVAL

OF BARBED WIRE ERECTED AT THE LOWU POST AND THE WITHDRAWAL OF

BRITISH MILITARY FORCES FROM THE AREA. ON 8TH MAY THE P.A.

MET OFFICIALS OF THE LOCAL NCNA OFFICE ON THE SAME

SUBJECT (TELEGRAM NO. 737 REFERS). ON THE 6TH JUNE C.T. FARMERS CARVED ANTI-IMPERIALIST AND PRO-MAO SLOGANS ON HILLSIDES IN

3.T. BUT THESE HAVE SINCE BEEN WASHED OUT BY RAIN.

(I) FOUR EXPLOSIONS IN THE VICINITY OF SHATAUKOK, B.T.

BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY 'FIRECRACKER BOMBS', AND DESIGNED

TO DISCOURAGE ATTENDENCE AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY FOR THE

RECENTLY ELECTED SHATAUKOK RURAL COMMITTEE. THESE EXPLOSIONS

WHICH HAD NO EFFECT, WERE PROABLY ORGANISED BY FORMER COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO FLED TO C.T. DURING THE DISTURBANCES LAST YEAR.

N

(J) THREE 'HOAX' BOMBS ON THE STAIRCASE OF AN OFFICE IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT. (THESE INCIDENTS APPEAR TO BE THE WORK OF IRRESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND THEY WILL NOT BE REPORTED IN FUTURE UNLESS THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THEY REPRESENT A CHANGE IN COMMUNIST POLICY, OR FORM A PATTERN OF ACTIVITIES, ON THE PART OF A MILITANT GROUP RUNNING COUNTER TO THE OFFICIAL LINES.

(K) 3 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO ARRIVED BY SEA WERE ARRESTED DURING THE WEEK.

2. THE FORMATION OF WORK GROUPS BY ANOTHER DOCKYARD UNION (SEE

PARAGRAPH (D) OF TELEGRAM NO. 674) SUGGESTS THAT UNION LEADERS CONCERNED REALISE THAT THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO OBTAIN REINSTATEMENT

SPARRO

/FOR THEIR