28
SECRET
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MEANWHILE THE RECENT DECISION TO INCREASE COMMISSION RATES ON
REMITTANCES TO CHINA (PARAGRAPH 5 OF TELEGRAM 594) HAS BEEN SHELVED,
POSSIBLY DUE TO THE REALISATION THAT THE MEASURE WOULD BE COUNTER
PRODUCTIVE.
5. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMUNIST GAS WORKERS' UNION, WHICH NOW
HAS LITTLE INFLUENCE (PARAGRAPH 3 OF TELEGRAM 517), WAS ARRESTED
ON WARRANT ON 9 AUGUST AND CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL INTIMIDATION DURING
1967 CONFRONTATION. NO DATE OF HEARING HAS YET BEEN FIXED.
6. THERE HAVE BEEN FURTHER MINOR PROVOCATIONS AT SHATAUKOK.
FIREWORK ROCKETS WERE DISCHARGED TOWARDS THE
POLICE POST, STONES WERE THROWN AT POLICE AND MILITARY PATROLS AND
AT POLICE RAIDING AN ILLEGAL GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENT IN BRITISH
TERRITORY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND ONLY MINOR DAMAGE WAS CAUSED.
A CHINESE GUARD APPEARED TO CONNIVE AT ONE INCIDENT.
COMMENT.
7. THE INCIDENTS INVOLVING CHINESE JUNK CREWS AND THE BORDER
INCIDENTS ARE AT VARIANCE WITH LOCAL COMMUNIST POLICY WHICH
CONTINUES TO BE AIMED AT DENIGRATING GOVERNMENT WHILST AVOIDING
ACTIONS WHICH MIGHT LEAD TO PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION ON THE GROUND.
THESE INCIDENTS HAVE SO FAR BEEN IGNORED BY THE COMMUNIST PRESS,
NORMALLY SO READY TO CAPITALISE ON ANTI-GOVERNMENT AGITATION.
FCO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY TO POLAD SINGAPORE AND ROUTINE TO
WASHINGTON AND CANBERRA.
SIR D. TRENCH
FILES
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED TO CABINET OFFICE]
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
H.K.D.
P.J.S.D. F.E.D. GUID DEPT. CONS DEPT.
O.L.A. O.P.A.
I.R.D.
I.P.D.
SIR L.MONSON MR. WILFORD
SIR E.PECK
MR. BURROUGHS
P.S. TO LORD SHEPHERD
SECRET
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION U.N.D. (4 COPIES)
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