RESTRICTED
CYPHER/CAT.A. AND BY BAG
PITTY FOREIGN OFFICE AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO CERTAIN MISSIONS
GUIDANCE NO. 154
RESTRICTED.
21 JUNE, 1967.
(IPG)
ADDRESSED TO CERTAIN MISSIONS TELEGRAM NO 154 GUIDANCE OF 21 JUNE.
HONG KONG.
SEE GUIDANCE NO 106 OF 18 MAY FOR AN EARLIER ACCOUNT OF EVENTS IN
RONG KONG AND CHINESE MOTIVES.
THE PRESENT SITUATION IN HONG KONG.
2. THE COMMUNISTS UNDOUBTEDLY LOST THE FIRST ROUND OF THEIR CONFRO- NTATION WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THEIR LEADERSHIP IS IN SOME DISARRAY. THEY FAILED TO WIN SUPPORT FROM THE CHINESE POPULATION OF HONG KONG WHO DEMONSTRATED CLEARLY THAT THEY PREFERRED CARRYING ON THEIR NORMAL BUSINESS ACTIVITIES TO TAKING PART IN POLITICALLY INSPIRED DEMONSTRATIONS. A PARTICUL- ARLY TELLING BLOW TO THE COMMUNISTS WAS THAT MANY NON-POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS IN HONG KONG (WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED TO REMAIN SILENT DURING THE DISTURBANCES) CAME OUT WITH STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
3. FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS THE COMMUNISTS HAVE SWITCHED FROM MASS DEMONSTRATIONS, INVOLVING SOME VIOLENCE, TO ORGANISING STOPPAGES, PARTICULARLY IN THE PUBLIC UTILITIES (TRANSPORT, GAS, ELECTRICITY ETC.), IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR POWER AND MAINTAIN THE
MORALE OF THEIR OWN SUPPORTERS. SUCH ACTIVITIES HAVE SO FAR HAD
LITTLE MORE THAN A NUISANCE EFFECT. TO SUSTAIN THEM THEY HAVE RE- SORTED INCREASINGLY TO INTIMIDATION OF THE LESS POLITICALLY
COMMITTED WORKERS,
4. THE SUBVERSIVE PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS AND POSTERS CONTINUES. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS TAKING FIRM ACTION TO COUNTER THE LATTER BUT, IN ORDER TO AVOID PROVOKING PEKING HAS
/ NOT ENOG NA
RESTRICTED
SENT TO HONG KONG AS COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.) TELEGRAM NO.1274
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