Page 276
COPY FOR DEF 75/51/02
IF 242/16/02
DRAFT ov
FED 382/400/01( TS)
16 Deceber, 1957
TOP SECRET
(179)
Would you please refer to your letter of 5th December, 1957, about the imperial defence contribution from Hong Kong.
2. Since my letter of 8th October was written, inter- Departmental discussions have taken place about the two additional army units, but no decision has yet been reached. The present position is that the Ministry of Defence and the War Office are still considering telegram No. 983 from the Governor of Hong Kong (of which you were sent a copy, according to our records) and especially paragraph 6 thereof, in which the whole defence contribution is discussed. The Governor's proposals seem to us to offer a reasonable way forward, but it remains to be seen whether they will be acceptable to the other interested Departments.
(K.G. Ashton)
Page 276
W. RUSSELL EDMUNDS, ESQ., O. B. E., T.D.,
TREASURY.
Page 276
SECRET 83
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
Rag 111/402/or
FROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)
Simplex D. 26th November, 1957.
R. 26th
#
PRIORITY SECRET
No.1024
Addressed S. of S.
11
12.30 hrs,
Page 277 of
186
Repeated Commissioner General for the U.K. in
S.E.A. No.214
Peking No.251 and by saving to
Tamsui No.45
Tokyo No.42,
Manila No.38,
Macau No.30
North Borneo No.51,Sarawak No.50 (S. of S. please páss to Commissioner
General and Peking and Commissioner General please pass to last two).
X
Intelligence telegram for two weeks ending
25th November.
A recent air photography report shows that gun positions and jeep tracks have been developed on Ma Huan Island 1407/2723. Other sources reported earlier in the year that guns had been emplaced there. The type of guns is not known, but if they are coastal artillery of sufficient calibre they are able to cover with fire the one remaining sea approach to Hong Kong which up to date could not be covered by guns from any of the other fortified islands belonging to Communist China.
20
There were 47 Naval and 35 coaster sightings during this period. 12 of the Naval sightings occurred on 21st November. The Russian KUBAN was sighted northbound in the Pearl River on 9th November and southbound on 13th November. The Polish NARWICK was seen at anchor at Lafsami on 23rd November and was sighted northbound in the Pearl River the following day. The Czech LIDICE sailed from Hong Kong on 10th November for Whampoa; the Polish POKOJ arrived at Hong Kong 20th November from Whampoa and sailed the same day for Yulin.
3.
With reference to paragraph 6 of my telegram No.974, agitation in the Royal Naval Dockyard against retrenchment of electricians culminated in a 90 minute token sitdown strike by about 300 workers on 21st November. The chairman of the "Livelihood Protection Committee" secured an interview with the Civil Secretary to the Commodore on 22nd November, in the course of which the latter warned him that pay would be stopped for the period of any further sit down strikes, and other necessary disciplinary action would be taken. A larger sitdown strike which had been planned for 23rd November did not take
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