TNAG-0184-FCO40-220-Local-intelligence-committee-reports-1969 — Page 17

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SECRET -2-

CHANGES INCLUDING A REDUCTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS FROM THIRTEEN TO

SEVEN, THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT THIS MOVE WAS MADE TO CONFORM

WITH THE LAW AND INDICATIONS ARE THAT OTHER COMMUNIST UNIONS

AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE WILL ALSO COMPLY.

4. A DISPUTE, WHICH LED TO A SIT-IN OF WORKERS, BROKE CUT WHEN A CHANGE OF MANAGEMENT OF ONE OF THE LARGER HOTELS WAS ANNOUNCED. THE

COMMUNIST UNION OPERATING IN THIS FIELD PROFFERED ADVICE FROM

BEHIND THE SCENES SEMICOLON IT ADVISED AGAINST STRIKE ACTION AND,

WHEN AWARE THAT A SIT-IN WAS IMMINENT, INSTRUCTED ITS MEMBERS TO

AVOID ANY FORM OF VIOLENCE. THE DISPUTE HAS NOW BEEN TEMPORARILY

RESOLVED.

5. NORMAN BARRYMAINE WAS RELEASED BY THE C.P.G. THROUGH LOWU ON

11 OCTOBER (TELEGRAM NO. 811) WHILE THE GORDON FAMILY CAME OUT ON 14 (TELEGRAM NO. 818) AND CAPTAIN WILL ON 16 OCTOBER (TELEGRAM 828). TWO STATELESS RUSSIANS WHO HAD BEEN DETAINED IN CHINA SINCE 1951

WERE RELEASED INTO HONG KONG ON 13 OCTOBER.

6. APART FROM TWO MINOR STONINGS AND THE DISCHARGE OF FIREWORK

ROCKETS ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE BORDER HAS BEEN INCIDENT FREE. THERE

HAS BEEN A REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF MAO PARAPHERNALIA ON DISPLAY

ON THE CHINESE SIDE OF THE FRONTIER.

7. THE DOUBLE TENTH CELEBRATIONS PASSED WITHOUT INCIDENT. AP ART

FROM AN INCREASE IN THE DISPLAY OF FLAGS IN CERTAIN AREAS THE

LOCAL K.M.T. MOVEMENT SEEMED UNABLE TO DO MUCH TO IMPLEMENT

DIRECTIVES FROM TAIWAN TO EXPAND THE SUPPORT GIVEN TO THE

FESTIVITIES.

COMMENT.

8. THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO THE VISITORS FROM HONG KONG TO THE

SECRET

/1 OCTOBER