1558Z
ра
50
Addressed to Commonwealth Office Repeated PRIORITY to Peking No.236, to
P.A. Singapore No. 103
H
++ Washington No. 119
(Commonwealth office please pass to all)
48
Peking telegram No. 504 to Foreign Office.
I would have no objection to specific reference
to Chinese M.F.A. statement being avoided. Perhaps "H.M.G. consider that
the Chinese Government have been misinformed about the actual course of
recent events leading to disturbances in Hong Kong.
The true facta
etc"
would do.
(Passed as requested)
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D.I.O., J.I.R. Kr. de la Mare
Kr. Bolland
Kr. Wilson
Hr. Denson
"Mr. Foggon
SECRET
ра
Brivate Secretary
" NG KONG
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No 31.
11967
FD1/1
1
¿
49
The Secret¬ry of state has asked why we agreed that the
statement on the isturbances be put out by the Commonwealth
office in London and not in Hong Kong, as he approved on
Monday, 15 Kay.
2. The reasons were:
(a) The Governor of Hong Kong had already made a statement
on Monday without consulting London. As directed by
the Secretary of State, the Governor was asked to explain
Phan-fhi 38 this. Ke did so in paragraph 1 of his telegram No. 12.
accepted that, as he had put out this statezent
les B-pkó (42) (text attached) sajing, inter sligh that "an anrver pust
come from K.M.G. în Lo'don", we should not insist that be
put out another.
(b) The Governor argued strongly thịt the reaction of
ordinary citizens in Hồng Kong to Communist pressure was
going to be cancdal · nd would depend on their judgerent
of H.M.U. C-termination to resist pressure and to
The
upold the Governor in reintaining law and order.
Governor was qui e olear that it was a statement from
London thɛt was needed.
(0) The reason fer our original recommendation that the
staterent be put out in Hong Kong was to try to avoid
a polerical exchange with fo‹ing and to concentrate attention on the
local, primarily industrial issues in-
volved. Having accepted he Governor's argurenta in
(a) and (b), the Commonwealth Office and we thought wa
could still achieve this result by issuing a factual non-polericsl
statement and having it put out by the
SECRET
/Cormonwealth
BECHE
2.
3.
Commonwealth Office rather than by the Foreign Office.
We decided, however, that we should divorce our own
statement as much as possible from that made by Peking
and therefore did not accept the Governor's recommendations
that we should Lantion the Peking statement and refer
to its "desands".
The Governor recommended that we put out our statement as
soon as possible bac¬se public expressions of support for the
Government which was beginning to make itself falt needed an
additional boost. Commonwealth Office Kiniutera took the view
that in these circumstan es a statement should be issued hers
forthwith. In the secretary of State's absence, we therefore
cleared the draft statement with Mr. Hodgers and the Permanent
Gader-Secretary. I also left copy in the Private Office
with a verbal explsantion of our action as the afternoon box
was just being closed.
The statement was put out by the Commonwealth Office at
5.00 p.m. yesterday.
Mr. Rodgers
P.U.S.
Mr. de la Kare
CHC-ET
(E. Bolland)
18 May, 1967
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
1 8 MAY 1967
FD1/1
ST CRET
Cypher/Cat A
PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Telno 504 17 May, 1967
SECRET
48
OP COP
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No.504 of 17 May, Repeated for
information to Hong Kong, Singapore and Washington.
(46)
Hong Kong telegram No.621 to Commonwealth Office.
4
I question desirability of specifically referring to Chinese V.F.A.
statement, but if Governor thinks this is important I am content.
Foreign Office please pass Washington 265.
Sent 13482/17 May Recd 14222/17 May
Mr. Hopson
[Repeated as requested]
latten it account
p.a.
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ADVANCE COPIES SENT
RESTRICTED
IMMARD TELEGRAM
K.117
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
RECEIVED
ALVES No. 31
Ne
1 7 MAY 1967
FD!!!
Cypher
D. 17 May, 1967.
R. 17
08312
47
FLASH RESTRICTED No. 623
FDI/1 34
Addressed to Commonwealth Office
Repeated
#
Ħ
Peking No. 233,
POLAD Singapore No.101
and Washington No.101
за
(3. of S. please pass to others Routine)
Peking telegram No. 494.
Hong Kong Disturbances.
Offences with which accused have been charged
are as follows:
Riot : 128
Unlawful assembly: 100
Breaking curfew: 91
Other miscellaneous offences (e.g. assault,
common assault and affray) : 88
Released without charge: 14.
(Passed as requested)
(Advance copies to Messrs. Wilson, Bolland, de la Mare)
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Kr. Denson
Mr. Foggon
RESTRICTED
[
44
For
Cypher
FLASH "SECRET No.621
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 17 May 1967
R. 17
0828Z
Addressed to Commonwealth Office
Repeated
Π
H
H
"Peking No.232
RII
"POLAD Singapore No.100
Washington No.116
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
1 7 MAY 1967
Folli
ре
(3. of S. please pass to all)
My immediately preceding telegram.
Peking Statement.
Following is suggested redraft.
"X.M.G. consider that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in making
their statement of May 15 about disturbances in Hong Kong are
misinformed about the actual course of events. The true facts are as
follows:-
2. As in first sub-paragraph 2 of your telegram under reference.
3. Disorders broke out on the 6th May outside one of these factories
which was situated in Kowloon. The police clearly informed those
involved of the laws governing peaceful picketing, warned them
repeatedly of the consequences of disorder and urged them to desist.
These warnings went unheeded; and the police were therefore obliged to
act to keep the peace. As a result 21 persons were arrested. Subsequent
efforts by the Labour Department to bring the parties together to
discuss their difficulties and try to reach an agreed settlement were
frustrated by the outbreak of further disorders on May 11 in the
vicinity of the same factory. Again after repeated warnings the police
were obliged to take action to keep the peace and 143 persons were
arrested. There were more disorders in the same area between 12 and 14
May and a further 257 persons were arrested. All cases of arrest are
being treated in the normal way in accordance with the due process of
the law,
4. Throughout the disturbances the Hong Kong police have shown great
restraint in carrying out their responsibilities and have used the
minimum force. A number of them were injured in the three days of
rioting.
5. In labour matters the Hong Kong Government's policy is to make
available the special services of its Labour Department to give
impartial help to management and trade unione to settle any dispute that
may arise between them. already done so on this occasion and remains
ready to do all it can to facilitate a settlement.
It has
16.
SECRET
1
SECRET
6. The Hong Kong Government has an inescapable duty to maintain law and
order as impartially and fairly as possible for the benefit of all in
Hong Kong. H.M.G. fully support the Hong Kong Government in fulfilling
its duty both in maintaining law and order and in the efforts it is
making to bring about a settlement of the industrial dispute. It is
emphasised that the original cause of these disturbances is a
comparatively small industrial conflict which it should be possible to
settle soon if the management and trade unions would sit down together
to discuss it in reason and goodwill.
7. In the light of the facts of the situation M.M.G. aro unable to
accept that the demands now made by the Chinese Government are
justified."
(Passed as requested)
(Advance copies passed to Mr. Wilson, Mr. Bolland,
Wilaọn, Mr. de la Mare)
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E =
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Mr. de la Mare
Mr. Bolland
Mr. Wilson
Mr. Denson Mr. Foggon
SECRET
L
Cypher
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
KID
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 17 May 1967 R. 17
0809Z
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
1 7 MAY 1967
FDI/1
FLASH SECRET No.620
Addressed to Commonwealth Office
Repeated
H
11
"Peking No.231
" POLAD Singapore No.99 "Washington No.115
(Please pass to all)
FD1/1 (43
Your telegram No.928,
4-5
ра
こん
Peking Statement.
I would prefer to see something more positive in tone. One of my major
anxieties at the present time is to do everything possible to maintain
public morale and confidence, without which our position here would be
untenable.
2. I think therefore that we ought to make it clear:-
(a)
(b)
that we do not accept Peking's charges as a true statement of the facts;
and
demands'
that in the light of the true facta of the matter H.M.G. cannot accept
that the are justified.
If we do not plainly state our attitude towards the 'demande, Peking are
surely certain to return to the charge.
3.
On matters of detail:
(a) In view of the traditional Chinese disinterest
in the concept of the 'law' I would prefer to avoid the phrase to
maintain law and order' in the first and fourth sentences of the
2nd paragraph, and instead to use to preserve the peace'.
(b) It seems necessary to make the point that both
on 6th and 11th May the police acted only after giving repeated unheeded
warnings to the crowds;
ê
(c)
In fact, or the 421 arrested up to morning of 17th May, 313 have been
committed, 14 have been discharged, 12 have been acquitted and 82 cases
are pending. The figures for those bailed varies from day to day as
cases are heard and it has
/only
SFC.FT
(a)
SECRET
only ephemeral significance. In general, I am not sure that I see
advantage in going into a) these figures in the statement; Peking have
already said that over 400 people were arrested and on that point at
least they are right.
The reference to the restraint shown by the police night specifically
make the point (which has been widely commented on by impartial
observers) that only minimum force was used.
(e) The sentence about discussions between management
and trade unions ought to be qualified by the addition of a phrase like
'in reason and goodwill'. Discussions with the Left-wing unions have
been rendered valueless in many recent disputes by their use of Maoist
tactics of intimidation and the irrational chanting of slogans, etc.
4. A proposed redraft of the statement is in my immediately following
telegram.
5. I hope it will be possible to issue statement very soon as public
expressions of support for Government have reached something of a
crescendo, and timing would be favourable.
6. I have now seen Peking telegram No.494 and will provide figures
additional to those in my telegram No.606 as soon as I can.
(Passed as requested)
(Advance copias passed to Mr. de la Mare, Mr. Bolland
and Mr. Wilson)
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Cypher
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFIC
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 16 May 1967
R. 16
R117
44)
LIVED IN AYURVES No.31)
1 7 MAY 1967
FDI/I
15302
pay
IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL No.619
FDILI 37
Addressed to Commonwealth Office Repeated
Peking No.229
POLAD Singapore No.98)
Singapore 20UTINE 17
(s. of S. please pass to both)
My telegram No.609.
Hong Kong
Indications are that in the immediate future the emphasis of Left-wing
activity will be on the presentation of petitions at Government House in
the most provocative and unruly way possible. Today petitions were
presented by 11 delegations over a continuous period of six hours and it
required the greatest restraint on the part of my ADCs to prevent
trouble. The size of the delegations is growing and we believe that for
example on 18 May 200 delegates will present a petition from one union.
2. I am accordingly making arrangements to restrict the entry of
petitioners into Government House grounds; but I am providing reasonable
facilities for the acceptance of petitions at the gate.
3. I doubt however if these arrangements will be effective for long, or
that they can be enforced without disorder. It is probable further
measures will soon have to be taken to keep unruly crowds away from
Government House.
(Passed as requested)
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Mr. Foggon CONFIDENTIAL
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Cypher
FLASH SECRET
SECRET
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
TO (1) HONG KONG
2) PEKING
Sent 16 May 1967. 1930Z
(1) N6.928
Addressed to Governor Hong Kong
H FLASH to Peking Repeated for information PRIORITY to:
Fail!
Your telegram No.612.
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No 31
1 MAY 1967
43)
FD1/11
FD!|!
p.a
だん
Polad Singapore Washington
Peking Statement.
Subject to Ministerial agreement, we accept that a statement should be
issued in London as soon as possible and a copy handed to the acting
Chinese Chargé d'Affaires.
2. We propose the following draft:
Begins.
"The recent disturbances in Kowloon arose from an industrial dispute in
April between workers and their employers about wages and conditions of
employment involving 650 workers in two factories producing artificial
flowers. The injection moulding sections of both factories were closed
and the workers were dismissed. A settlement could not be reached in
negotiations between employers and workers. The Labour Department of the
Hong Kong Government offered its services in an effort to help the
parties to reach agreement, but this offer was refused by both sides.
The
Disorders broke out on the 6th May outside one of these factories which
was situated in Kowloon, police intervened to maintain law and order
and, as a result, 21 persons were arrested. Subsequent efforts by the
Labour Department to bring the parties together to discuss their
differences and try to reach an agreed settlement were frustrated by the
outbreak of further disorders on the 11 th May in the vicinity of the
same factory. The police were called in to restore law and order and 60
persons were arrested. There were more disorders in the same area until
the 14th May. About 400 in all have been arrested and the law requires
that they should be brought before the courts for trial. Meanwhile...
persons have been released on bail,
SECRET
/The
J
SECRET
The Hong Kong Government's policy is to make available the specialist
servicea of its Labour Departme to give impartial help to management and
trade unions to settle any disputes which may arise between them. It has
already done so on this occasion and remains ready to continue to do all
it can to facilitate a settlement. In the same way, the Hong Kong
Government has an inescapable duty to maintain law and order as
impartially and as fairly as possible for the benefit of all in Hong
Kong The Hong Kong police, a number of whom have been injured in the
three days of disturbances, have shown great restraint in carrying out
these responsibilities.
Her Majesty's Government fully support the
Hong Kong Government in fulfilling its duty in maintaining law and order
and in the efforts it is making to bring about a settlement of the
industrial dispute. It is emphasised that the original cause of these
disturbances was a comparatively amall industrial dispute which it
should be possible to settle soon if the management and trade unions
concerned would sit down together to discuss it."
Ends.
3. Grateful for your and Peking's urgent comments. Also for number of
persons released on bail for inclusion in statement.
(To Washington only)
4. Previous telegrams on this subject will be in tomorrow's bag.
(Passed to D.8.A.0. for transmission to Peking and
repetition to Washington and Singapore)
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SECRET
OSEAGRAM LN LH A
LHX156: 06297 V4255 CD6775
MTIGKONG
338 15 1915 /338 15 1915
ESS
PAPELRIES LONDON
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
1 7 MAY 1967
4-2
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