TNAG-0183-FCO40-219-Briefs-for-Ministry-of-Defence-Ministerial-visits-1969 — Page 18

19

SECRET

K271; M° Hattersley's insit has ben cancelled.

I have sent off a beagan informing the

निद

Aq. Gommar.

AMG 20.10.69.

VISIT OF MINISTER OF STATE FOR ADMINISTRATION.

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

MR HATTERSLEY)

TO HONG KONG, OCTOBER/NOVEMBER. 1969

POLITICAL AND INTERNAL SECURITY SITUATION

GENERAL

??

It is now nearly two years since the end of the Communist campaign of violence against the Hong Kong authorities. During this period there has been no organised violence in the Colony;

there have been sporadic incidents involving violence on a minor

scale but such incidents are believed to have been entirely

spontaneous in origin and to have received no instigation or encouragement from the Communist authorities in Peking. In fact such violence as there has been may reasonably be attributed to the protracted difficulties experienced by the local Communist leadership in convincing their more militant cadres of the desirability of abandoning violence in favour of a long term ideological campaign to win public support for their cause.

2. This latter course has been followed by the Communists for

a considerable time now and as part of their campaign they seek every opportunity of criticising the authorities on the ground of real or alleged deficiencies in the administration of the Colony's affairs. They have been particularly critical in the spheres of public transport, crime, labour disputes, hawkers and resettlement schemes; but they do not hesitate to seize upon any opportunity which presents itself of furthering their ultimate objective, which is to undermine the authority of the Government. There is no evidence to suggest that they are achieving any success in their campaign (except possibly in the sphere of education); nor is there any reason whatever to suppose that they have any intention of abandoning their efforts to attain their ultimate objective.

Recent Incidents and Current Situation

3′′

During August there were several incursions into Colony

/ waters

SECRET