TNAG-0121-FCO40-157-Kowloon-walled-city-and-adjoining-areas-1970 — Page 51

agree

MJ

CONFIDENTIAL

unregistered schools, a problem which should be examined

by the Schools Steering Committee".

4. This raises two issues on which the Chinese Government

could well prove sensitive on past performance, jurisdiction

in the Walled City and communist education in Hong Kong. It

would mean an extension of government authority into the field

of educational activity in the Walled City where interference

has been minimal in the past. It could involve the closure

of communist schools which events since 1967 have shown to be

a particularly sensitive issue for local communists and the

Chinese Government alike. While in recent years China appears

to have acquiesced in the exercise of a growing measure of

authority by the Hong Kong Government in the Walled City we

cannot be sure that its acquiescence would extend to the

closure of communist schools there. While therefore we would

agree that the grounds for so proceeding are strong, we do not

consider that this will necessarily prevent violent communist

criticism or even a formal reaction by the Chinese Government.

Moreover, as we see it, any attempt to discuss the problem in

advance with the Chinese through informal channels would

probably be dangerous, if not counter-productive.

case action to ensure observance of fire protection requirements

in schools should plainly be seen to be non-discriminatory

preferably starting off by making an example of one or two

independent schools without communist connexions (if there are

Once the Schools Steering Committee has examined the

/ problem

such).

In any

CONFIDENTIAL

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