TNAG-0281-FCO40-317-Visit-of-the-Chancellor-of-the-Duchy-of-Lancaster-to-Hong-Ko-1970 — Page 169

CNTDNTIAL

Present Policy

of local Communists

official contacts with the Nationalist authorities in

Formosa, and by ensuring as far as possible that the latter

do not use Hong Kong as a base for their subversive and

intelligence activities against the mainland.

COMMUNIST CONFRONTATION

15. Since the end of the communist inspired disturbances

in 1967, the local communists have avoided violence in

their programme of confrontation with the authorities.

It appears that they are under firm instructions from

Peking to act within the law and to direct their activities

to building a broader political base in the Colony.

They have kept up their criticism of the authorities using

whatever means may come to hand and there is every

indication that they will continue indefinitely in their

efforts to undermine the authority of the Government and

to win over the general public to their own side.

16. A number of long term communist prisoners are still

serving sentences for their part in the disturbances of

1967 (they were 89 in number at the end of July) and must

constitute a continuing point of friction in Sino-Hong Kong

relations. There is little local pressure for their

release at present and the Hong Kong communista seem

resigned to the likelihood that the prisoners will have

to serve out their sentences less normal remission.

for prestige reasons and the morale of their local

supporters the CPG cannot afford to forget these prisoners. The Chinese now constantly refer to them in their official

But

diplomatic exchanges with us, and it is clear that the

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CONFTD NTI AL