CAB148-30-Defence and Oversea Policy Committee Meetings Relating to 1967 Disturbances-1967 — Page 264

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It was also noted that the present police surveillance of the Chinese

diplomatic mission in London created a considerable strain on police

man-power and some reduction would be desirable by the following week if the

situation then allowed.

Since

With particular reference to Hong Kong, the point was made that action

was essential in the near future against the so-called "mosquito broad sheets" (containing threats of death against leading personalities).

these were printed on presses belong to the Government of the People's

Republic of China the problem of how to deal with them was a particularly awkward one,

but the Officer Administering the Government was convinced that

fimm action must be taken if the Hong Kong authorities were not to lose the

confidence of the population. Equally, action was necessary against persons carrying bombs and the view had been expressed that the death penalty might be

prescribed in such cases. No action would be taken on any of these points

without reference first to Ministers. Apart from this aspect of the

situation in the Colony, there was the question of the strength of forces to

be maintained there. Despite the long-term plans for reduction of the

garrison, which had been agreed in the course of the recent defence expenditure studies, it had been necessary recently to increase the forces in the Colony by one battalion and two RAF flights. It would probably also be

necessary to send reinforcements to Hong Kong to cover the period of early

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October, when the/celebrations of the Chinese New Year might lead to further

disturbances.

THE PRIME MINISTER, summing up the discussion, said that the situation must be kept under close review by the Ministers concerned and by the Ministerial Committee on Hong Kong as necessary. Any proposals for action

in Hong Kong must be considered in relation to its possible effects on the

staff of the office of the British Charge d'Affaires in Peking and their

dependants, though clearly we must do whatever was essential to enable the

local Governnent to maintain order. In the meantime, it would be dangerous if our plans for reducing the garrison of Hong Kong the following spring were to

become known. Work on these plans should therefore be abandoned for the

time being though our long term plans for that end should remain in force.

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