TNAG-0566-FCO40-699-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-change-in-Chinese-leadership-1976 — Page 37

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be greatly misunderstood locally. This may explain why the NCNA again warned us on 17 and 18 September that attempts might be made by the 'Chiang Kai-shek gang using reactionary cultural people and intellectuals' (i.e. the New Left) to sabotage the final memorial services for MAO held on the Saturday afternoon. Although this warning paralleled the one issued in Peking, it could well have been provoked by some intelligence of what instructions the KMT were receiving from Taipei. In the event there were no further incidents even the Revolutionary Marxist League decided not to try to present a wreath at the Bank of China - but there has been talk of the

T having their riposte on the Double Tenth and I think we will have to watch very carefully for signs of increased KMT activity at that time.

3.

The communists themselves took careful precautions not to engage in any confrontation (e.g. by instructing the faithful to remove black arm bands after leaving communist premises) and were throughout clearly following a well prepared course. Flags were at half mast on the NCNA building almost immediately after the news broke on 9 September and the slogan 'May Chairman MAO Live For 10,000 Years' on the top of the Bank of China was not lit up that evening. It was subsequently taken down, although the hoarding is still there ready for the next slogan.

4.

Displays showing MAO's life and works appeared rapidly in communist shops and sales of the Thought were reported tu have increased considerably. It was even announced that during the period of mourning, "the Hsinhua Weekly would be published twice a week". There appears however to have been some debate among the communists as to whether the mourning ceremonies for foreign friends and Chinese compatriots could be adequately accommodated in the Bank of China and at one stage a rumour spread that the communists were likely to ask for the use of the Government Stadium. In the event they decided to stage it over 2 days at the Bank of China, using the ground floor banking hall which is considerably more convenient and larger than the penthouse on the 12th floor where the memorial services for CHOU En-lai and CHU Teh were held. The first day attracted about 35,000 people according to police estimates (compared with 20,000 at the time of CHOU En-lai's mourning ceremony). Although there was pressure on us to release advance information about the Governor's intentions, there was little comment on the fact that he went to sign the book of condolence and also sent a wreath. (He has since received a letter of thanks from the Director of the NCNA as have Alan Donald and John Curle who accompanied him.) A number of Hong Kong Government officials who had particularly close contacts with the communists (e.g. in the railway, water and civil aviation fields) also attended. Dr S Y Chung and Q W Lee represented Legco and Exco and Sonny Sales with Henry Hu went on behalf of Urbco. (There had earlier been rumours that Sales was pressing for all members of Urbco to go). There was also strong attendance by the

3/Consular

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