TOP COPY
Cypher/Cat.A
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
Telno.354
SECRET
Rastipe
put
7/5
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
5 May, 1969
24
(20)
62 Powd
SECRET
Addressed to F.C.0. Telno.354 of 5 May. Repeated for Information to Polad Singapore, Washington, Canberra and Saving to Peking.
For F.C.C. and Cabinet Office for J.I.C. Following from L.I.C. Assessment of the Situation as at 0600 hours, 5 May, 1969.
The principal features of the period have been :
(A) A resurgence of local Communist celebrations to mark the con- clusion of the 9th Chinese Communist Party Congress on 24 April, which continued to the end of the month. Functions were on a scale similar to those which marked the opening of the Congress, (my Telno.287), but enthusiasm among those attending appeared to be re- strained. Propaganda in speeches and in the Communist Press em- phasised national glory and prestige, the need for unity and the power of Kao's thoughts; only passing reference was made to Hong Kong where compatriots were urged to 'unite the masses' and adapt their actions to local conditions in pursuit of 'final victory'. Apart from Press news coverage, local non-Communist circles retained an air of relative indifference to the celebrations.
(B) Labour Day celebrations by both Communist and Kuomintang Trade Unions on 1 Kay: The general pattern followed that of previous years but Communist union functions (slightly more than last year see Telegram 569/68), merged with the 9th Congress celebrations and a number of Unions organised picnic parties to the new terri- tories. Attendances by both Communist and non-Communist were slightly below expectations and speakers generally avoided contentious subjects. Apart from the usual theme of workers uniting, the 9th Congress and the 10th K.M.T. Congress, which closed recently in Taiwan, provided the main material for speeches at respective Communist and K.M.T. parties.
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51
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122
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-6 MAY 1969
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THKK 13/
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