TNAG-0184-FCO40-220-Local-intelligence-committee-reports-1969 — Page 117

SECRET

HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 2109 TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

3

NEAR LO WU AND THE OTHER AT SHA TAU KOK. AN OFFICIAL ENQUIRY ABOUT TWO PERSONS RECENTLY ABDUCTED ACROSS THE BORDER

WAS MADE TO THE LOCAL NCNA BRANCH (TELEGRAM 2102).

(H) THE OPENING OF THE CANTON AUTUMN TRADE FAIR ON 15TH OCTOBER, WITH THE USUAL WIDESPREAD PUBLICITY IN THE LOCAL COMMUNIST PRESS. SO FAR IT APPEARS THAT OVERSEAS VISITORS ARE ATTENDING IN SIMILAR NUMBERS TO THE SPRING FAIR, BUT WITH SOME SMALL DROP IN LOCAL ATTENDANCE.

2. LOCAL COMMUNIST ACTIVITY HAS REMAINED IN A FAIRLY LOW KEY AND HAS CONCENTRATED ON PROPAGANDA ISSUES, POSSIBLY WHILE THE LOCAL HIERARCHY TAKES STOCK OF THE POSITION FOLLOWING THE NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS. LITTLE INITIATIVE CAN BE EXPECTED FROM THE LABOUR SPHERE UNTIL THE PROBLEM OF THE STRIKERS HAS BEEN SETTLED, AND COMMUNIST BUSINESS CIRCLES WILL BE OCCUPIED WITH THE TRADE FAIR IN CANTON FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

FCO PLEASE PASS WASHINGTON AND HC CANBERRA ROUTINE.

SIR D TRENCH

/REPEATED AS REQUESTED/

COPIES SENT TO CABINET OFFICE/

FILES

HONG KONG DEPT.

P.U.S.D.

FAR EASTERN DEPT.

GUIDANCE DEPT.

SIR.J. JOHNSTON

SIR A. GAL SWORTHY

MR. MORETON

INFORMATION RESEARCH DEPT.

P.S. TO LORD SHEPHERD

OVERSEAS LABOUR ADVISER

OVERSEAS POLICE ADVISER

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SECRET

ADVANCE COPIES SENT