TNAG-0184-FCO40-220-Local-intelligence-committee-reports-1969 — Page 115

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE HONGKONG

TOP COPI

0

SECRET

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

21 OCTOBER 1968

TELEGRAM NUMBER 2149

RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No. 63

22 OCT1968

SECRET

HICK 13/2

FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM HONGKONG.

p.a.

#525

10

на

ADDRESSED FCO TELEGRAM NO. 2109 DATED 21ST OCTOBER, RFI POLAD SINGAPORE, WASHINGTON, CANBERRA, AND SAVING TO PEKING.

FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND CABINET OFFICE FOR J.1.C. FOLLOWING FROM L.1.C. WEEKLY ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION AS AT

06.00 HOURS 21ST OCTOBER 1968 FOLLOWS. THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE

PERIOD HAVE BEEN:-

(A) COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA EXPLOITATION OF A LABOUR DISPUTE, BETWEEN THE MANAGEMENT OF A LOCAL RATTAN FACTORY OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND AND BLIND PERSONS EMPLOYED THERE, IN WHICH GOVERNMENT IS MEDIATING. IT WAS GIVEN WIDE AND CRITICAL

COVERAGE IN ALL SECTIONS OF THE LOCAL PRESS SEMICOLON THE COMMUNIST

COMMUN PAPERS CONCENTRATING ON COVERNMENT'S QUOTE EXPLOITATION OF THE BLIND UNQUOTE AND FAILURE TO ALLEVIATE THE HARDSHIPS OF THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE COMMUNISTS INSPIRED THE DISPUTE, BUT, ONCE STARTED, MADE EVERY EFFORT TO CAPITALISE ON THẺ SITUATION.

(B) WELCOMING PARTIES FOR RELEASED EMERGENCY DETAINEES (PARAGRAPH 1(C) OF TELEGRAM 2684). THOUGH SPEECHES WERE MORE MODERATE THAN IN THE PAST, THERE HAS BEEN SUSTAINED COVERAGE IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS PARTICUARLY OVER THE FILM STAR

WHO IS PROBABLY THE BEST KNOWN OF THOSE DETAINED.

UNION FUNCTIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN HELD TO CELEBRATE THE RELEASE FROM PRISON OF A NUMBER OF MEMBERS AFTER SENTENCES FOR CONFRONTATION

OFFENCES.

(C) CONTINUING VARIETY SHOWS MARKING THE C.P.G. NATIONAL DAY WHICH SINCE 1ST OCTOBER HAVE HAD EVER DECREASING ATTENDANCES SEMICOLON RIGHT WING SUPPORTERS ARE PREPARING MINOR PRIVATE FUNCTIONS ON 31ST OCTOBER TO MARK CHIANG KAI SHEK'S BIRTH DAY. APART FROM THE INEVIT- ABLE DISPARAGING REMARKS IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS THESE ARE

/UNLIKELY

SECRET

}