TNAG-0184-FCO40-220-Local-intelligence-committee-reports-1969 — Page 113

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(E) THE DEPARTURE OF THE C.P.G. MERCHANT VESSEL FROM THE COLONY

WITHOUT UNDERGOING REPAIRS AT A LOCAL DOCKYARD CPARAGRAPH 1(F)

OF TELEGRAM 2109). THE SHIP'S AGENTS HAVE WRITTEN TO THE DOCK-

-YARD ACCUSING THE MANAGEMENT OF 'INTRODUCING POLITICS INTO

BUSINESS'.

(F) THE VISIT OF A NUCLEAR POWERED U.S. WARSHIP WHICH PRODUCED IN

THE COMMUNIST PRESS THE OFT REPEATED ALLEGATIONS THAT THE COLONY

IS BEING USED AS 'A U.S. BASE FOR AGGRESSION' AND THAT THE PRESENCE

OF THIS TYPE OF VESSEL, BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE 'FALL-OUT' PRESENTS A

DANGER TO THE HEALTH OF THE POPULATION.

(G) THE ANNOUNCEMENT, BY A SENIOR UNION OFFICIAL, AT A MEETING OF

A MAJOR BRANCH OF THE MAIN COMMUNIST TRANSPORTATION UNION, THAT

CHINA EXPECTED ALL'STRIKERS' TO BE EMPLOYED BY THE END OF THE YEAR'.

AT ANOTHER GATHERING OF LABOUR OFFICIALS, A SENIOR PERSONALITY

STATED THAT ANY STRIKERS' IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES IN 1969

COULD BE DEALT WITH ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. PRESSURE ON 'STRIKERS'

TO FIND WORK IS BEING INTENSIFIED EVEN FURTHER IN ORDER TO REDUCE

TO AN ABSOLUTE MINIMUM THE NUMBERS RECEIVING 'STRIKE PAY' BEFORE

IT IS COMPLETELY TERMINATED.

CH) FOUR ISOLATED STONING INCIDENTS ON THE LAND FRONTIER, CAUSING

MINOR INJURY TO POLICE/MILITARY PATROLS. THESE INCIDENTS DO NOT

APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN ORGANISED ALTHOUGH THE P.L.A. DID NOT INTERVENE

AND APPEARED TO CONDONE THEM. ON 26TH OCTOBER,

1968, A CHINESE MALE SWAM THE RIVER NEAR LO WU FROM C.T. SEMICOLON

WHILST IN THE WATER P.L.A. AND CIVILIANS, PRESUMABLY MILITIA,

OPENED FIRE AND WOUNDED HIM IN THE SHOULDER. HE WAS LATER CAPTURED

ON THE B.T. BANK OF THE RIVER AND TAKEN BACK TO C.T. BY A PARTY OF

CIVILIANS WHO CROSSED IN TWO SAMPANS. DETAILS OF THIS TECHNICAL

BREACH OF SOVEREIGNTY FOLLOW BY SEPARATE CABLE..

2. IT NOW APPEARS CERTAIN THAT THE END OF THE YEAR IS TO BE THE

'DEAD-LINE' FOR THE FINAL 'STRIKE' ALLOWANCES. THE TIMING OF THIS

JUST BEFORE CHINESE NEW YEAR, APPEARS TO BE VERY POOR

PSYCHOLOGY ON THE PART OF THE COMMUNIST HIERARCHY AND CANNOT BUT

DEPRESS THE MORALE OF THE UNION MEMBERS EVEN FURTHER. NEVERTHELESS,

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