TNAG-0567-FCO40-700-Political-parties-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 26

MORNTIAL

2 860

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 28023JOZ-

C

This Cepy for :

Para(s)

CONFIDENTIAL

6.1.4:976

Informalen erly/Acción on

TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 577 OF 8 JUNE

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, CANBERRA, WELLINGTON AND SINGAPORE (FOR J.W.P. MARTIN).

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PLEASE PASS TO:

CABINET OFFICE FOR SECRETARY JIC.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE LIC ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION FOR MAY 1976

CHINESE COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES.

COMMUNIST ORGANIZATIONS IN HONG KONG AND MACAU HAVE CONTINUED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE ANTI-RIGHTIST CAMPAIGN IN CHINA, HIGHLIGHTED AT FUNCTIONS HELD TO MARK THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION, THE 34TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE YENAN FORUM, AND YOUTH DAY. THIS LATTER FUNCTION WAS CELEBRATED ON A LARGER SCALE THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS WITH RALLIES BY COMMUNIST YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS AT TWO SPORTS STADIA, SEVERAL POST-SECONDARY STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS ALSO HELD MEETINGS.

2. THE COMMUNISTS HAVE PRACTED IN A PREDICTABLY HOSTILE FASHION TO THE ATTEMPTS BY THE NEW LEFT TO EXPLOIT THE RIOTS IN TIEN AN MEN SQUARE ON 5TH APRIL (SEE PARAGRAPH 6 BELOW). THEY HAVE BEEN ISSUING STRONG WARNINGS TO THEIR SUPPORTERS ABOUT THE COUNTER- REVOLUTIONARY THREATS FROM THE KMT, THE NEW LEFT, AND SOVIET REVISIONISM, WHILST THE COMMUNISTS ARE UNDOUBTEDLY TAKING THE NEW LEFT THREAT SERIOUSLY THIS MAY ALSO SERVE AS A MEANS OF DIVERTING ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE CURRENT SITUATION IN CHINA.

3. COMMUNIST ACTIVITY IN SPORTING CIRCLES WAS BOOSTED BY THE VISIT OF AN ATHLETIC TEAM FROM CHINA WHICH JOINED IN A TRAINING SESSION WITH LOCAL ATHLETES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE HONG KONG AMATEUR