TNAG-0104-FCO40-140-Discussions-with-Governor-during-his-visits-to-UK-1969 — Page 93

schools is roughly estimated at 7,280 and

this brings the total number of children

in communist schools to approximately

27,500, or 2.4 per cent of the total school

population, as compared with 1.9 per cent

last year.

4. In view of the public apprehension

engendered and the short and long term

threat to the authority of the Hong Kong

Government which is posed by these schools,

the Governor considers that he may be

obliged to take overt and fairly direct

action, possibly at short notice, to curb

both the opening of new schools and the

activities of those already established;

he has certain measures under consideration

for this purpose.

5.

L

Mr. Cradock in Peking has pointed out that

any action specifically aimed at curbing or

controlling communist education generally

would constitute an important change in our

policy on the freedom of the Communists to

conduct their education programme in Hong

Kong. He emphasises :-

(a)

that action against communist

schools as such is a new departure

and to be distinguished from the

Speute act of

t q

closure of the Chung Wah School

which was de-registered because of

bomb-making.

(b) that we should meet full-scale

/Chinese

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