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CYPHER/CAT A
ROUTINE HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY S
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 149 TO PEKING
31 JULY 1969
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED PEKING AS MYTEL. NO. 149 OF 31ST JULY RFI F.C.O.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 435 TO F.C.0.
IMPRISONMENT OF COMMUNIST
TRADE UNION OFFICIALS.
I AM SORRY THAT THE SITUATION MAY APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN SPRUNG ON
YOU UNAWARES, DESPITE THE REFERENCE TO THE CASE IN THREE SUCCESSIVE
L.1.C. ASSESSMENTS SEMI COLON SEE (D) OF MY SAVINGRAM NO. 12
(E) OF MY SAVINGRAM NO. 13 AND (C) OF MY SAVINGRAM NO. 14.
2.
WHILE IT WOULD CLEARLY NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR EVERY CASE IN WHICH
A COMMUNIST SYMPATHISER IS PROSECUTED FOR ANY OFFENCE TO BE NOTIFIED
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TO YOU BEFOREHAND, I SHALL CERTAINLY TRY TO ENSURE THAT WHERE
A PROSECUTION IS CAPABLE OF BEING CONSTRUED AS DIRECTED AGAINST
THE COMMUNIST POSITION (HOWEVER UNREASONABLE THAT POSITION MAY BE)
YOU ARE GIVEN SPECIFIC AND APPROPRIATE WARNING.
3. IN THE PRESENT INSTANCE WE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING FOR MANY MONTHS
TO PERSUADE THE TRADE UNIONS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
LAW REGARDING THE VALIDITY OF ELECTION OF OFFICIALS. ACTION WAS
INITIATED LONG BEFORE RECENT MEASURES TAKEN IN RESPECT TO IMPRISONED
NEWSWORKERS ETC. DIRECT WARNINGS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO UNION OFFICIALS
AND IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT, GIVEN THE TENDENCY IN RECENT MONTHS FOR
THE COMMUNISTS TO AVOID OPEN DEFIANCE OF THE LAW, WHERE IT WAS MADE
14137 HILLTO
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