GR 650
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 1007012
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(10)
NCEIVED IN
RESISTRY NO. 51
10 AUG 1977
MILKL014/1
TOP COPY
TO IMMEDIATE F.C.0 TELNO.805 OF 10 AUGUST,
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, CANBERRA, SINGAPORE,
INFO SAVING WELLINGTON.
PLEASE PASS TO CABINET OFFICE FOR SECRETARY J.l.C.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE L.1.C. ASSESSMENT FOR JULY 1977.
ECONOMY AND LABOUR.
A NUMBER OF TRADE UNIONS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH WORKERS IN PUBLIC UTILITIES, TRANSPORT AND THE DOCKYARDS HAVE BEEN PRESSING FOR WAGE INCREASES RANGING FROM SIX PERCENT TO TWENTY PERCENT. SOME EMPLOYERS HAVE ALREADY RESPONDED BY OFFERING INCREASES OF SLIGHTLY LESS THAN TEN PERCENT. A SEVEN AND ONE HALF PERCENT SALARY INCREASE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS EFFECTIVE FROM 1ST APRIL 1977 WAS WELL RECEIVED BY THEM AND EXCITED LITTLE PUBLIC INTEREST.
CHINESE COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES.
2. CHINESE COMMUNISTS HAVE WELCOMED AND SUPPORTED THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT THE THIRD PLENARY SESSION OF THE TENTH CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND MEETINGS WERE CALLED BY MOST LOCAL COMMUNIST ORGANISATIONS TO MARK THE EVENT. THERE IS STILL NO EVIDENCE THAT THE PARTY ORGANISATION IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE GANG OF FOUR, CULMINATING IN THEIR EXPULSION FROM THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY.
3. THE LESS RIGID ATTITUDE NOW BEING PERMITTED TO THE COMMUNISTS IN HONG KONG HAS BECOME EVIDENT IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS WHERE SOME
FOREIGN NEWS MINOR CHANGES IN FORMAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.
*
MINOR
RELEASES CONCERNING THE REHABILITATION OF TENG HSIAO-PING WERE QUOTED PRIOR TO THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM PEKING. COMMUNIST NEWSPAPERS WERE ALSO ALLOWED TO GIVE LIMITED COVERAGE TO THE DEFECTION OF A PEOPLES LIBERATION ARMY PILOT TO TAIWAN.
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