TNAG-0066-FCO40-102-Local-intelligence-reports-1968 — Page 77

SECRET

-4-

IT NOW REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THE BORDER AUTHORITIES AND THE FARMERS WILL BE PREPARED TO ACCEPT GOVERNMENT'S REPLY BUT THE

N.C.N.A.

S ATTITUDE MAKES THIS UNLIKELY TELEGRAM 710 REFERC). IT IS

OF SOME INTEREST HOWEVER THAT, SO FAR, APART FROM PROPAGANDA THERE HAS BEEN NO REACTION IN THE URBAN AREA TO THIS INCIDENT.

4. THE VISIT OF THE U.S.S. ENTERPRISE PRODUCED THE MOST WIDESPREAD COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE USE OF HONG KONG AS AN AMERICAN WAR BASE YET SEEN HERE. IT REMAINED VERBAL, THE ONLY INNOVATION BEING THE DISTRIBUTION OF ANTI-AMERICAN LEAFLETS AND POSTERS, APPARENTLY DESIGNED TO COINCIDE WITH THE C.P.G. PROTEST. AS WAS TO BE EXPECTED, MUCH OF THE HEAT HAS GONE OUT OF THE CAMPAIGN FOLLOWING THE DEPARTURE OF THE ENTERPRISE.

5. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ATTEMPT BY 'STRIKERS' TO DISRUPT PUBLIC TRANSPORT (PARAGRAPH 1(C) REFERS) IS SOMEWHAT OBSCURE. IT COULD BE A

CLUMSY ATTEMPT TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE PUBLIC THAT THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES ARE INADEQUATE AND THEREFORE THE MANAGEMENTS SHOULD

REINSTATE THE 'STRIKERS'. NEVERTHELESS, THE ABSENCE OF COMMUNIST

PRESS COVERAGE REFLECTS THE AWARENESS THAT PUBLICITY FOR SUCH CONDUCT CAN ONLY ALIENATE THE PUBLIC. HOWEVER, THE ENDORSEMENT OF THIS DISRUPTIVE MOVE BY THE A.C.A.P.S.C. IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE INCONSISTENCY OF THE COMMUNISTS IN THEIR TACTICS ON THE GROUND, AS, ONLY RECENTLY, FURTHER HEAVY STRESS WAS LAID ON THE IMPORTANCE OF WINNING OVER THE SYMPATHY OF THE PUBLIC TO THE 'REINSTATEMENT STRUGGLE'. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS APPARENT CONFLICT BETWEEN COMMUNIST THINKING AND ACTION, THERE IS EVERY INDICATION THAT THEY STILL DO

NOT WISH OPENLY TO CLASH WITH THE AUTHORITIES.

CO PLEASE PASS CANBERRA 52, AND WASHINGTON 74.

SIR D.TRENCH.

FILES

C.0. H.K.D.

P.A.D.

[ADVANCE & TYPED COPIES SENT TO

CABINET OFFICE]

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

ADVANCE COPIES BENT

F.E.P.D.

I.r.D.

I.K.D.

P.S. TO LORD SHEPHERD

SIR A.GALSWORTHY

MR. MABON

P.0. P.E.D.

SIR D.ALLEN

Mix.

WILKINSON

0.1.A.

U.P.A. 1.0.5.D.

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