TNAG-0066-FCO40-102-Local-intelligence-reports-1968 — Page 73

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FOR THEIR MEMBERS. HOWEVER, THE OFFER BY THE MANAGEMENT OF A DOCY-

YARD IN KOWLOON TO RE-EMPLOY SOME OF THE 'STRIKERS', ALBEIT THROUGH

A CONTRACTOR, WILL NO DOUBT GO SOME WAY TOWARDS BOOSTING THE MORALE

OF 'STRIKERS' AND ENCOURAGE THEIR DELEGATIONS TO BE EVEN MORE

PERSISTENT.

3. SENIOR LABOUR LEADERS STILL SEEM ANXIOUS THAT DELEGATIONS SHOULD

REMAIN ORDERLY AND NOT ANTAGONISE. FORMER EMPLOYERS OR THE PUBLIC,

BUT THEIR GREATER SIZE, NUMBER AND MILITANCY DURING THE PAST WEEK

HAS CONSIDERABLY INCREASED THE DANGER OF A CLASH WITH THE POLICE.

THE ASSERTATION THAT INSTRUCTIONS ARE BEING MISINTERPRETED AND THE

CRITICISM OF THE DISRUPTION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT LAST WEEK PROVIDE

SOME EXPLANATION OF APPARENT CONTRADICTIONS IN CURRENT COMMUNIST

POLICY (PARAGRAPH 5 OF TELEGRAM NO. 715). HOWEVER THE COMMUNIST

HIERARCHY APPEAR TO HAVE, LITTLE ALTERNATIVE BUT TO CONTINUE WITH

THESE DELEGATIONS.

4. ACCORDING TO TRAVELLERS THERE HAS BEEN A DETERIORATION IN THE

CANTON SECURITY SITUATION. MAJOR FACTIONAL CLASHES ARE REPORTED TO HAVE OCCURED ON 2ND, 3RD, AND 6TH JUNE, WITH MINOR DISTURBANCES

TAKING PLACE DAILY. THE INCREASING USE OF FIREARMS IN THESE

ENCOUNTERS IS SAID TO HAVE CAUSED A RISE IN THE CASUALTY RATE, AND

IN THE DEATH TOLL. THE P.L.A. ARE SAID TO HAVE IMPOSED A 19.00

HOURS TO 06.00 HOURS CURFEW IN PARTS OF THE CITY, AND TO HAVE

ARRESTED SOME OF THE RINGLEADERS IN THE FIGHTING, BUT THERE HAVE

BEEN FEW REPORTS OF DIRECT P.L.A. INTERVENTION IN THE CLASHES.

TRAVELLERS HAVE ALSO REPORTED SERIOUS FACTIONAL DISTURBANCES IN.

FOSHAN, AND YANGCHIANG COUNTY.

ČO PLEASE PASS CANBERRA 54 AND WASHINGTON 80.

SIR D. TRENCH

FILES

REPEATED AS REQUESTED AND PASSED TO CABINET OFFICE/

C.O. H.K.D.

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

P.A.D.

F.E.P.D.

I.P.D.

I.R.D.

C.O. MR. MASON

F.0. F.E.D.

MR. WILKINSON

O.L.A.

O.P.A.

P.U.S.D.

P.S. TO LORD SHEPHERD

SIR.A. GALSWORTHY DIS.M.O.D.

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