TNAG-0184-FCO40-220-Local-intelligence-committee-reports-1969 — Page 83

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EXPLOITATION, BY THE COMMUNIST HONG KONG SEAMEN'S

UNION OF A DISPUTE ON BOARD A BRITISH REGISTERED SHIP IN JAPAN

IN DECEMBER WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF FORMAL ENQUIRIES BY THE

MEMBERS OF THE CREW AND UNION OFFICIALS

MARINE DEPARTMENT.

HAVE VISITED THE MARINE DEPARTMENT AND THE SHIP'S OWNERS

TO PROTEST ABOUT THE ACTION TAKEN SEMI COLON SO FAR THE ISSUE

HAS ALSO BEEN ACCORDED LOW-KEY PUBLICITY IN THE COMMUNIST

PRESS.

(E) FOUR INSTANCES OF HARASSMENT OF POLICE TAKING ACTION FOR MINOR OFFENCES ON THE STREETS. IN ONE INCIDENT, OUTSIDE

A CHINESE PRODUCTS STORE, POLICE ARRESTED THREE OF THE

STORE EMPLOYEES WHO BECAME DISORDERLY AFTER REFUSING TO

REMOVE AN OBSTRUCTION SENI COLON LATER A NEWSPAPER REPORTER,.

ATTEMPTING TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SCENE, WAS TAKEN

FORCIBLY INTO THE STORE BY SIX OF ITS STAFF AND ONLY

RELEASED AFTER POLICE ENTERED AND ARRESTED. A FURTHER FOUR

PERSONS. THOSE ARRESTED INCLUDE THE CHAIRMAN AND ANOTHER

OFFICIAL OF A SMALL COMMUNIST RICE WORKERS' UNION.

IN THE

OTHER THREE CASES, POLICE WERE ABUSED WHEN ARRESTING A

TRAFFIC OFFENDER AND HAWKERS.

(F) ARRANGEMENTS BY ALL LOCAL COMMUNIST CIRCLES TO STAGE EXTENSIVE

CELEBRATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE 9TH CONGRESS OF THE C.C.P.

LOCAL LEADERS ARE EXPECTING AN IMMINENT ANNOUNCEMENT BUT ARE UNCERTAIN, HOWEVER, AS TO WHETHER IT WILL BE MADE ON THE OPENING

OR CLOSING OF THE CONGRESS OR WHETHER IT WILL BE PUBLIC OR FOR

DISSEMINATION ONLY WITHIN COMMUNIST CIRCLES. STRICT INSTRUCTIONS

ARE BEING GIVEN, EMANATING FROM CHINA, THAT CELEBRATION

ACTIVITIES KUST NOT BE CONDUCTED IN PUBLIC, TO AVOID ANY RISK OF A

CLASH WITH THE GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES.

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