TNAG-0069-FCO40-105-Disturbances-in-Hong-Kong-propaganda-1967 — Page 184

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F.O. AND C.0. TELEGRAM GUIDANCE NO. 154.

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NOT SO FAR ACTED AGAINST THE PRESS. THE COMMUNISTS HAVE ALSO BEEN TRYING TO MAKE PUBLICITY OUT OF THE FIRST TWO DEATHS TO OCCUR IN- DIRECTLY AS A RESULT OF POLICE ACTIONS SINCE THE DISTURBANCES BEGAN.

THE FACTS OF THE TWO CASES ARE AS FOLLOWS. ONE MAN DIED IN POLICE

CUSTODY ON 9 JUNE, AFTER HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED AS A RING-LEADER OF DISTURBANCES IN A GOVERNMENT WORKSHOP IN KOWLOON ON 8 JUNE. DEATH.

WAS APPARENTLY CAUSED BY THE PUNCTURING OF HIS LUNG BY A FRACTURED

RIB. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS MAN'S DEATH ARE BEING INVESTIGATED AND A REPORT PREPARED FOR THE CORONER. A SECOND MAN WAS FOUND DEAD

IN A COAL BUNKER AT KOWLOON GAS WORKS ON 11 JUNE. IT IS BELIEVED

THAT HE HAD HIDDEN TO AVOID RIOTERS OR THE POLICE AND LATER DIED

OF ASPHYXIA AFTER SOME COAL IN THE BUNKER HAD FALLEN ON HIM. COMM-

UNIST ATTEMPTS TO MAKE PROPAGANDA OUT OF THESE TWO CASES HAS HOW-

EVER BEEN HAMPERED BY THE FACT THAT THE OFFICIAL NEW CHINA NEWS

AGENCY HAD ON 23 MAY PUT OUT A SENSATIONALLY EXAGGERATED REPORT

THAT QUOTE AT LEAST 233 CHINESE COMPATRIOTS WERE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY WOUNDED UNQUOTE IN HONG KONG ON THE PREVIOUS DAY. TWO DEATHS, ONE OF WHICH HAD ONLY A REMOTE CONNECTION WITH POLICE ACTION, LOOK TAME BY COMPARISON. IT IS IN FACT A GREAT TRIBUTE TO THE RESTRAINT AND *

ABILITY OF THE HONG KONG POLICE THAT THE ONLY FATAL CASUALTIES TO

OCCUR BEFORE THIS WAS THE ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF A BYSTANDER HIT ON

THE HEAD BY A DEMONSTRATOR'S BRICK.

ATTITUDE OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.

5. AN EDITORIAL IN THE OFFICIAL PARTY NEWSPAPER, QUOTE THE PEOPLE'S DAILY UNQUOTE ON 3 JUNE CALLED ON THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO MOB|-

LIZE AGAINST QUOTE BRITISH IMPERIALIST PROVOCATIONS UNQUOTE. THE EDITORIAL PUT THE ONUS FOR THIS STRUGGLE ON THE WORKING CLASS IN HONG KONG BUT SAID THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE QUOTE TO BE READY AT ANY TIME TO RESPOND TO THE CALL OF THE GREAT MOTHERLAND AND SMASH THE REACT:ONARY RULE OF BRITISH IMPERIALISTS UNQUOTE. THE TEXT OF THIS EDITORIAL SUGGESTED THAT PEKING WAS ADVOCATING A LONG- TERM CAMPAIGN AGAINST BRITISH RULE IN HONG KONG IN WHICH THE MOST IMMEDIATE TASK WAS TO FORM A QUOTE MASS BASE UNQUOTE (1.E. ACHIEVE SUFFICIENT POPULAR SUPPORT). IT LEFT OPEN THE QUESTION OF WHEN PEKING MIGHT ISSUE ITS QUOTE CALL UNQUOTE.

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