TNAG-0184-FCO40-220-Local-intelligence-committee-reports-1969 — Page 116

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UNLIKELY TO ATTRACT MUCH ATTENTION OR TO FORM THE BASIS FOR ANY

DISORDER.

(D) THE RESUMPTION OF INSPECTIONS OF COMMUNIST SCHOOLS BY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OFFICERS. THEY WERE POLITELY RECEIVED AND WERE INFORMED

THAT CANDIDATES WILL BE SUBMITTED TO SIT NEXT YEAR'S GOVERNMENT

CHINESE SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION. FIGURES THUS FAR INDICATE

THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER NOMINATED FOR THE EXAMS MAY APPROXIMATE THOSE

OF 1966. IT APPEARS THAT COMMUNIST SCHOOLS INTEND TO COMPLY. OVERTLY WITH THE LAW AND TO DEVOTE MORE ATTENTION TO ACADEMIC STUDIES,

THOUGH WITH CONTINUED POLITICAL FLAVOUR. AT THE SAME TIME THE

COMMUNISTS ARE, NO DOUBT, SEEKING TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND THEIR CADRE OF THOSE QUALIFIED TO TEACH, AT LEAST, AT PRIMARY LEVEL.

(E) FURTHER PRESSURE TO GAIN EMPLOYMENT ON 'STRIKERS'

OF THE MAIN TRANSPORTATION UNION WHO MAKE UP THE LARGEST GROUP STILL RECEIVING 'STRIKE' PAY (SOME 5740) : 500 UNION MEMBERS

HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO OBTAIN WORK BY THE END OF THE MONTH AS AN

EXAMPLE TO OTHER MEMBERS. NOW THAT THE FINAL WARNING HAS

BEEN GIVEN IT IS LIKELY THAT THE MAJORITY WILL MAKE A REAL EFFORT .

TO FIND ALTERNATIVE WORK OF SOME SORT AND THE COMMUNIST LEADERS

WILL THEN BE ABLE TO CLOSE A STRIKE' CAMPAIGN WHICH, FROM THE COMMUNIST VIEWPOINT, CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS AN ABYSMAL FAILURE. THE ADVERSE EFFECT OF THIS COMMUNIST FAILURE ON MORALE IN LABOUR

CIRCLES GENERALLY CAN BE EXPECTED TO LAST FOR A CONSIDERABLE

TIME.

(F) THE REFUSAL BY A LOCAL DOCKYARD TO REPAIR A CPG OWNED MERCHANT VESSEL, THE FIRST TO REQUEST REPAIRS SINCE MAY 1967, WHILE IT WAS CARRYING COMMUNIST SLOGANS AND POSTERS. THE

SHIP REMAINS AT A HARBOUR BUOY WHERE IT HAS BEEN FOR SEVERAL

MONTHS, AND THE OWNERS REPRESENTATIVE IS SEEKING INSTRUCTIONS

FROM THE AUTHORITIES IN CHINA,

(G) THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SMALL CONCRETE BILLBOARD' DESIGNED TO

DISPLAY SLOGANS, ON THE IMMEDIAVTE CT SIDE OF THE BORDER LINE IN SHA TAU KOK VILLAGE. IT IS REPORTED OTHERS ARE PLANNED IN THE

SAME AREA. THE MILITIA ARE BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS

LATEST PROPAGANDA MOVE. TWO VERY MINOR STONINGS OCCURRED, ONE

/NEAR

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