TNAG-0186-FCO40-222-Special-branch-reports-on-Communist-activities-1969 — Page 5

9.

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Criticism of Government was resumed in 1956

following the introduction of the immigration quota

system at the border and intensified after the anti-

communist riots on 10th October of that year when

hysterical outbursts alleging Government connivance with

the K.M.T. to commit 'atrocities' against communists

appeared in their newspapers. This turn of events

ushered in a period of two years during which no

opportunity was lost to attack Government and demand

'respect for the inalienable rights of the Chinese'.

Government's education policy, retrenchment of Naval

Dockyard staff, the retirement of Sir Alexander Grantham,

squatter and resettlement issues were all built up

into major propaganda campaigns. The period was, of

course, also one of intense united front activity

parties, to which 'neutrals' were invited, were thrown

by communist organisations and visiting groups to China

were organised on a large scale. There is little doubt

that much of the anti-Government propaganda which

appeared at this time was designed to 'win over' certain

sections of the community to the communist cause by

engendering a feeling of 'national pride' at the expense

of the Hong Kong Government. It is of interest, however,

that despite the vitriolic attacks on Government which

appeared in the communist press there was virtually no

militant communist anti-Government activity, in the way

of demonstrations, processions, picketing, etc., on the

ground. This campaign continued until the end of 1958,

when the anti-Hong Kong/British propaganda was toned down,

possibly because of the rather disastrous developments

in China, including the failure of the Big Leap Forward,

the chaos of overlarge communes and the onset of what

were to be three years of bad harvests.

CONFIDENTIAL