TNAG-0184-FCO40-220-Local-intelligence-committee-reports-1969 — Page 78

SECRET

HON

HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.179 TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

- 3-

COMMUNIST EDUCATION CIRCLES CLEARLY WISH TO AVOID AN OPEN CLASH WITH GOVERNMENT, BUT POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION CONTINUES AT

A HIGH LEVEL AND THEIR LONG TERM EXPANSION AIMS REMAIN UNCHANGED, THE DAILY CIRCULATION OF THE COMMUNIST PRESS REMAINS AT 272,500 AND EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THEIR FINANCIAL POSITION NOW APPEAR TO OUTWEIGH POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS. IN FILM, PUBLISHING, BANKING AND COMMERCIAL CIRCLES THE EMPHASIS REMAINS ON IMPROVING BUSINESS, WITH SOME SUCCESS RECENTLY IN THE SALE OF CHINA PRODUCTS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE LUNAR NEW YEAR. THE CONTINUED COMMUNIST EFFORTS TO INCREASE THEIR INFLUENCE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAVE SO FAR MET WITH LITTLE SUCCESS BUT THE RECENT UPSURGE IN INDOCTRINATION AMONG YOUTHS IN SOME AREAS MAY ATTRACT MORE SUPPORT.

(FCO PSE PASS TO WASHINGTON AND CANBERRA)

SIR D. TRENCH

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED AND PASSED TO JIC].

FILES:

HONG KONG DEPT P.U.S.D.

F.E.D.

ADVANCE COPIES SENT:

GUIDANCE DEPT

O.L.A. /

O.P.A.

I.R.D.

MR. MORETON

SIR A. GALSWORTHY

SIR J. JOHNSTON

P.S. TO LORD SHEPHERD

SECRET

&&&&

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31

25 FEB 1969

TIKKA/L