TNAG-0186-FCO40-222-Special-branch-reports-on-Communist-activities-1969 — Page 7

forces for rest and recreation (R. & R.) visits, an

increasing amount of criticism of the Hong Kong Government

for permitting the Colony to be used by the Americans

as a 'base for aggression' crept into the communist

newspapers. Allied to this criticism were attacks on

Government for any act which could be interpreted by

the communists as implying support for the K.M.T. or

indicating a move towards self-government for the

Colony. The stand adopted was 'Hong Kong belongs to

China (C.P.G.); although China does not wish to recover

the territory at present nothing must be done to encourage

a greater K.M.T. presence or to spark off any move for

independence'. Government was criticised for alleged

support of 'U.S./CHIANG elements' in labour disputes

and for 'conniving in the activities of K.M.T. agents

in Hong Kong'. Nevertheless the language was still

relatively mild as evidenced by the sample translations

of some articles published during this period at

Appendix 'A'.

13.

The early stages of the Cultural Revolution

in China were not reflected in any major change in the

local communist press but the tone of communist newspapers

became more aggressive when the Macau communists 'won

the struggle' against the Macau Government in January, 1967.

The 'Hong Kong British Imperialists' were warned to take

notice of the 'lesson learnt by the Macau Government'

in an article concerning the presence in Hong Kong of

the nuclear powered aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise.

The Hong Kong Government was threatened with the

consequences (unspecified) of allowing the Americans to

continue to utilise the Colony as a base.

CONFIDENTIAL