CHAPTER 1
THE BACKGROUND
THE history of confrontation in Hong Kong begins with the inaugura- tion by Chairman Mao Tse Tung of the cultural revolution in China. Hong Kong, because of its geographical position and its history has inevitably been affected by events in China. More than 95% of its population is Chinese by race, almost all of whom have some ties with the mainland and, while there are many who have come to regard the Colony as their permanent home, there are also many who regard their stay here as a temporary interlude until they return to their true home in China. The effects of the cultural revolution therefore, and in partic- ular the intense patriotism and the devotion to Chairman Mao Tse Tung and his teachings that it engendered, were bound to spill over into Hong Kong.
2. One of the main doctrines of the cultural revolution is the over- throw of capitalism; indeed its main target is the 'revisionists' who have been led away from the true revolutionary spirit to 'take the capitalist road'. It was therefore in full accordance with the revolution that action-and violent action if necessary-should be taken against capitalist Hong Kong. There were many examples to show the way: in China itself the Red Guards had demonstrated the power of revolu- tionary action; the communists in Macau had at the end of 1966 shown that the precepts of Chairman Mao Tse Tung, backed with a show of force, were able to compel a colonial government to accept the demands of the revolutionary masses; and in Hong Kong itself the same spirit, and the same tactics, had been successful in a dispute with a major shipping line.
3. It seems clear in retrospect that the more fanatical communists in Hong Kong were convinced not only that they should apply the principles of the cultural revolution to the Colony but also that they were certain to carry the population with them. Fully indoctrinated themselves and believing that the 'Thoughts of Mao' were invincible, they could not, they thought, fail to convince their 'compatriots' that it was their duty to fight for these ideals. Moreover any move against
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