TNAG-0227-FCO40-263-Disturbances-in-Hong-Kong-19671968-1970 — Page 19

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Communist-inspired riots occurred in murma. These began with a

protest by Chinese students against the ben on wearing ao badres.

They broke the Sino-Burmese friendship which had been evident since

the Bandung Conference on 1955. Peking's increased new support for

the Communists in Thailand, Malaysia, Laos and Vietnam and the practice

of handing out ao badges and Yao's "little book", caused great offence

to incumbent governments. Even prince Sihanouk of Cambodia, usually

friendly towards Tao, complained about the activities of Chinese-supported

Communists in his country. It may well have been that these "violent

squabbles with (China's) neighbours were unavoidable offshoots of the Cultural Revolution rather then deliberate foreign démarches directed by

Peking", nevertheless they had a radical effect on China's external

relations.

3

As has been pointed out "The degree of self-induced diplomatic

isolation attributable to this excess of revolutionary zeal was well

illustrated at the National Day celebrations of October 1967, at which the

only foreign leader of any status was the head of the Albanian delegation".

The immediate causes of the crisis in Hong-Kong were internal. During April 1967 a labour dispute over wages and working conditions.

concerned and demonstrations began.

conflict changed in character.

who instigated serious rioting.

regarded as the major cause of the conflict. Of course economic

grievances existed but wages and working conditions, especially in the

larger factories, were improving rapidly and, in fact, the plastic flower

factory dispute quickly faded into the background. It was really the

overcrowded living accommodation rather than bad labour relations which

created the ready material for demonstration. As was noted at the time

developed in a plastic flower factory

The management dismissed the employees

on the 11th May this genuine labour

It was exploited by Chinese Communists

Economic factors cannot, however, be

3. Far Eastern Economic Review,

13 July 1967 P128

•

4. Pell, C, "The Foreign policy of China" in F.S.forthedge "he Foreica

policy of the Powers", p147.