CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 2291 TO FCO
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GAMES ETC. HOWEVER, IN GENERAL THERE IS NO CONCTACT WITH N.T.
RESIDENTS. THE COMMUNIST HIERARCHY REALISE THAT THESE OUTINGS
ARE MORE POPULAR WITH THEIR FOLLOWERS THAN INDOOR POLITICAL
STUDY SESSIONS SEMICOLON THEY ALSO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE
A PUBLIC IMPRESSION OF 'STRENGTH AND UNITY'.
2. THE COMMUNIST CAMPAIGN REGARDING PRISONERS AND DETAINEES HAS SO
FAR APPEARED TO HAVE MADE LITTLE IMPACT ON THE MAJORITY OF THE
COLONY'S RESIDENTS. WHILE LOCAL COMMUNISTS HAVE CONTINUED GENERALLY
TO BE CAREFUL IN THEIR REFERENCES TO GREY, THE LATEST N.C.N.A.
(PEKING) RELEASE, IN SEEKING TO COUNTER WESTERN PUBLICITY AND TO
JUSTIFY HIS CONTINUED DETENTION, COMES CLOSE TO PUBLICLY PLACING
A PRICE ON LIFTING THE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED UPON THIS REUTERS
REPRESENTATIVE. HOWEVER THE STATEMENT IS NOT SO CATEGORICAL
AS TO DENY PEKING ROOM FOR FURTHER MANOEUVRE.
3. PRESSURE UPON 'STRIKERS' TO FIND ANY JOB WHATSOEVER CONTINUES.
THE NUMBERS WHO REMAIN UNEMPLOYED HAVE BEEN FURTHER REDUCED TO
APPROXIMATELY 3,400 COMPARED WITH 5,400 A MONTH AGO. IN EDUCATIONAL
CIRCLES THE EMPHASIS CONTINUES TO BE UPON UNITED FRONT WORK AND
THE POLITICAL BIAS OF THEIR FUNCTIONS CAN BE EXPECTED TO BE
SOMEWHAT TONED DOWN SO AS NOT TO DISCOURAGE NEUTRAL STUDENTS
FROM FUTURE ATTENDANCE. WHILE THE REGISTRATION OF THE NEW SCHOOL
AT THE EX-CHUNG WA SCHOOL PREMISES WILL NO DOUBT BE CLAIMED AS A
VICTORY BY THE COMMUNISTS, THE APPLICANTS WENT TO CONSIDERABLE
LENGTHS TO COMPLY WITH GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. IT WILL PROBABLY BE
USED TO ABSORB EXCESS STUDENTS IN OTHER COMMUNIST SCHOOLS IN
ADDITION TO MANY OF THE EX-CHUNG WA STUDENTS. COMMUNIST NEWSPAPERS
HAVE FAILED TO IMPPOVE FURTHER THEIR CIRCULATION DURING THE MONTH
SEMICOLON THERE ARE INDICATIONS OF TIGHTENING POLITICAL CONTROL AS
'RELIABLE' STAFF FROM THE LEADING NEWSPAPERS ARE BEING ASSIGNED
TO POSTS IN THE MINOR NEWSPAPERS. IN FILM, PUBLISHING, BANKING
AND COMMERCIAL CIRCLES THE EMPHASIS REMAINS ON IMPROVING THEIR
FINANCIAL POSITION.
CONFIDENTIAL
/FCO
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