TNAG-0210-FCO40-246-Briefs-and-background-notes-for-visit-of-Deputy-Under-Secret-1969 — Page 11

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SECRET

6. Minor stoning and fireworks incidents have occurred from

time to time in the vicinity of the border. This area is

always a sensitive one and such incidents do not normally

excite comment. However, their frequency increased at the

end of August and on 20 September a message was passed to the New China News Agency asking them to draw the attention of the appropriate Chinese authorities to the incidents. No reply has been received to this message.

7. The recent introduction of regulations controlling the activities of light buses (mini-buses) has given rise to

a certain amount of trouble. An incident occurred on 27

September which involved the arrest of the crew of a mini-bus

in the New Territories and which eventually necessitated the

use of tear smoke by the police. The following day public

mini-bus drivers throughout the Colony stopped work for several hours in protest against the enforcement of the regulations. Although several Communist supporters were

involved in the original incident, the latter was entirely spontaneous and the Communist trade union concerned subsequently made it clear that the stoppage did not have

their backing.

It

8. The Communist Chinese National Day Celebrations on

1 October were the most uneventful for several years.

was evident that the local Communist leadership did everything possible to avoid any action which might provoke an

incident.

Communist Press

of this

9. The Communists make full use/in pursuing their long term policy. Although the general tone of propaganda is less extreme than it was in 1967 the Communist press continues its

vilification of the Government and it not infrequently publishes material of a seditious nature. The Hong Kong Government is inhibited from taking legal action because of extreme C.P.G. sensitivity to any action which might be construed as an attempt to control the activities of the Communist press.

/degree

The

SECRET