TNAG-0210-FCO40-246-Briefs-and-background-notes-for-visit-of-Deputy-Under-Secret-1969 — Page 8

CONFIDENTIAL

(c)

Note 5

and Nationalist affiliations) and other weaknesses, the movement cannot throw up anyone of acceptable representative capacity or stature. Moreover, service on the Central Councils of the Hong Kong Government takes a great deal of time and is unpaid.

The Nomination to the Legislature of One or Two Elected Members of Local Government Bodies

This seems to be the most promising possibility but at the present time the field consists solely of elected Members of the Urban Council and it might be better to await the establishment of other Local

Government bodies. When the reorganisation of local government (delayed by confrontation and its after- math) is under way this possible change in the basis of Legislature Council Membership might be more closely examined and at the same time consideration might be given to dispensing with the two "closed" seats for representatives of the Justices of the Peace and the Chamber of Commerce.

2. It is doubtful whether the Governor will have had any fresh ideas on this subject, but there may be scope for further discussion of the possibilities in the context of discussions on developments in the field of local adminis- tration (See Note No. 5)

Hong Kong Department October, 1969

CONFIDENTIAL

VISIT OF DEPUTY

SIR

SECRET

UNDER-SECRETARY

Note No. 4

OF

STATE

LESLIE MONSON)

ΤΟ HONG KONG, OCTOBER. 1969

COMMUNIST

CONFRONTATION

There are three issues arising out of Communist

confrontation which present particular problems:-

(a) the Communist press

(b) (c)

Communist schools

those Communist prisoners who are still serving

long term sentences for offences connected with

the 1967 disturbances.

(c) is dealt with in a separate Note prepared by Far Eastern Department on the subject of Sino/Hong Kong/British relations

generally.

2. The Communists have always attached great importance to (a) and (b), which they see as their main instruments to

further their campaign of subversion. The notes on these aspects below are mainly for information; we have no points to raise on (a), and on (b) it seems necessary only to show

interest in the progress being made to find ways of confining

communist efforts to expand their activities in the

educational field.

BACKGROUND

General

3. It is now nearly two years since the end of the Communist campaign of violence against the Hong Kong authorities. During this period there has been no organised violence in the Colony; there have been sporadic incidents involving violence on a minor scale but such incidents are believed to have been

SECRET

/entirely

SECRET

entirely spontaneous in origin and to have received no

instigation or encouragement from the Communist authorities in

Peking. In fact such violence as there has been may

reasonably be attributed to the protracted difficulties

experienced by the local Communist leadership in convincing (under directions from Peking) their more militant cadres of the desirability of abandoning violence in favour of a long term ideological campaign to win public support for their

cause.

4. This latter course has been followed by the Communists for a considerable time now and as part of their campaign they seek every opportunity of criticising the authorities on the ground of real or alleged deficiencies in the administration of the Colony's affairs. They have been particularly critical

in the spheres of public transport, crime, labour disputes, hawkers and resettlement schemes; but they do not hesitate

to seize upon any opportunity which presents itself of furthering

their ultimate objective, which is to undermine the authority of the Government. There is no evidence to suggest that they are achieving any success in their campaign (except possibly in the sphere of education); nor is there any reason

whatever to suppose that they have any intention of abandoning

their efforts to attain their ultimate objective.

Recent Incidents and Current Situation

5. During August there were several incursions into Colony

waters by motorised junks from Chinese territory in pursuit of

illegal immigrants into the Colony. Encounters with police patrol launches were involved and the incidents led to a message of protest being handed to the New China News Agency by the Hong Kong authorities early in September. The New

China News Agency representative to whom the message was given declined to accept the Hong Kong version of the incidents, but apart from this no reply to the message has been received.

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16.

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