TNAG-0186-FCO40-222-Special-branch-reports-on-Communist-activities-1969 — Page 20

mount effective widespread strike action. Nevertheless during the last

year it has shown its resilience and its determination to conduct a long

term insidious campaign to undermine the authority of Government. It

has already initiated moves in many spheres to regain its former influence.

So far these have been largely unsuccessful but as the memory of the

violent events of 1967 gradually fades from the public mind, so may the

communists appear more "reasonable" again and thus acquire a wider base of

support from the public. This must be a top priority requirement if they

are to achieve a position from which, without more than moral support from

China, they can hope once more seriously to threaten the security of the

Colony.

35.

China.

Everything, of course, depends eventually upon the attitude of

At present the authorities there have made it quite clear to the

local communists that a policy of non-violence is to be pursued in Hong

Kong, one which will not interfere with the Sino-British relations, and

that they must not expect any substantial help from China in the struggle to

regain their position in the Colony. While this policy prevails no

dramatic recovery in local communist strength or its capability to present

a serious physical threat to the security of the Colony seems likely in

the immediate future, but persistent work to consolidate their ranks and

obtain support from the public must be expected to bring about a gradual

improvement in the communist position here. However, any serious

deterioration of the situation in Hong Kong, which might result from

reaction to a spontaneous incident or a situation in which local communists

and Peking itself were forced to support a more violent stand against the

Hong Kong Government, could clearly cause the C.P.G. to reassess her

policy towards the Colony.