FDITI
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เท่ง
to Commonwealth office (D.T.D.).
"Peking No. 317.
"P.A. Singapore No. 165.
"Washington No. 169. (Please pass
PRIORITY to all).
SITREP at 061900.
My telegram No. 770.
There has been no strong Communist reaction to the removal of posters,
nor has there been any concerted attempt to replace them.. On the other
hand, their removal has been made the excuse for a further series of
token strikes of which there have been six so far with at least one more
rumoured for the near future. There has, as yet, been no reaction to the
H.M.8. BULWARK incident,
2.
Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) maintenance crews staged a
against token atoppage affecting two shifts on 5 June Hong Kong
Government brutality'. Very few new posters were put up on KMB vehicles
however. On 6 June, the majority
This could be an attempt of star ferries carried new posters. to test
our reactions but it is possible that the crews acted on their own
initiative. The intention is for the police to remove these posters
tonight. Elsewhere in the Colony there has been no increase in poster
activity. The emphasis is now on displaying local Communist newspapers,
particularly special editions. It is of interest that the CPG-owned Bank
of Communications has removed its inflammatory displays and substituted
newspapers.
Prosecution action against Communist premises still displaying
inflammatory material is being prepared.
3. There have been token stoppages today among cargo supervisors,
electric meter readers, tailoring and lighthouse maintenance workers, in
Kowloon docks and in the Taikoo dockyard. In the last case, two
Europeans were cornered and detained for several hours. Violence seemed
likely and there was some intimidation of right-wing and neutral
workers. The situation eased during the afternoon and the workers
The Government dockyard continues dispersed peacefully at 1700.
There are forecasts of
to operate on a much reduced scale. further stoppages in the next few
days, notably in the urban
SECRET
/services
SECRET
services department. All this activity indicates an increasing control
18 being exercised over Communist activity against the Government.
4. None of the stoppages during the last two days nor those forecast are
expected to cause much general inconvenience or to disrupt the Colony's
life seriously, The present Communist aim seems to remain at keeping the
temperature up without risking any further loss of public support. We
can, therefore, expect a continuation of these incidents but not a major
industrial confrontation,
(Passed as requested)
(Passed to D.8.A.0. for Commonwealth Secretary,
Messrs. de la Mare, Wilson and Bolland)
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Representative)- Mr. T. Critchley
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SECRET
Mr. K. MacLellan
20
JUN 1967
FD |||
"ypher
PRIORITY SECRET No. 809
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
ب
The Belland
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 10th June, 1967 R. 10th
11
17
04002
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the tole
120
Hi: seggstions
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PP.W.T
Rodgra :/
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reporch minité
переть
at (142) Sq
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D. T.D.). Repeated P.0.L.A.D.
Singapore No. 171.
H Washington No. 176.
(Please pass to both.)
ky telegram No. 808.
119
P.az%.
Confrontation in Hong Kong.
I would be very glad to have some idea of what diplomatic, economic or
other similar moves in support of the situation here in Hong Kong are
being undertaken or contemplated by you: particularly details of any
that happen to be of a kind which could be publicized as a stimulant to
local confidence. In this connexion I do hope it is fully realized how
extremely dangerous the aituation here remains and is likely to remain;
and that we shall need every ounce of assistance and support we can get
if we are to come through. We can win every battle locally, and still be
brought down if our economy withers in a few months time.
2.
If I have any suggestions to offer for ways in which help could be given
I will, of course, forward them; but I fear that in general we are too
isolated here to be able to produce many ideas. Neverthelesat-
(8) Could not friendly Commonwealth and foreign opinion generally be
mobilized and at least stimulated to offer expressions of support, if
they cannot be induced to hint at active help if the pressure becomes
too great?
(b) I believe there may well no longer be any virtue in asking the
United States to stand aside, and that an indication of American
interest and concern, coupled with a renewal of visits by major vessels,
would be regarded by the Chinese as a reminder of the need for caution
on their part. They now seem likely to be as wary of American
intervention here as we are of Chinese intervention. this fresh line of
thought could be studied.
Perhaps
(c) Should we not be making some gestures towards friendly S.E. Asian
countries who are having rather similar troubles, e.g. Singapore and
Malaysia and even Indonesia and Taiwan? I notice Tunku Abdul Rahman
recently referred to the similarity of the situations here and in
Malaya! and I am told Singapore very recently deregistered three unions.
The time may have
/come
SEGRET
SECRET
come when Hong Kong should abandon its deliberate isolation from the
budding political alignments of the region, for fear' of Chinese
reactiona, and seek to see what strength and confidence we might be able
to drew from these alignments. As a start, we might seek to exchange
visits of suitable officers with Malaya and Singapore for the mutual
gathering of experience, and publicize the visits.
(a) Japan in particular has big commercial and industrial interests here
and perhaps could be induced to let the word get to the Chinese that she
would be very unwilling to see them interfered with.
(e) Is there no neutral ground (Pakistan?) where our diplomatic
representatives (or other mission on our behalf) could approach the
Chinese representative and try to find out just what Peking would be
satisfied with? Locally, we are getting practically nowhere in our
contacts and it is doubtful where the power lies.
(2) Can anything be done, at least in the United Kingdom to induce
importers not to write us off but to re-order confidently? Any signs of
lack of confidence of this kind in the United Kingdom would be
disastrous indeed.
The recent reported increase in shipping insurance rate is certainly
very damaging.
(g) Could an interdepartmental standing committee be set up in London to
keep the situation under review and to suggest what measures could be
taken to help us from outside Hong Kong? Sedgwick might be able to help
on this committee and Bank of England representation would seem
desirable.
I
3. I am afraid the above is very scrappy, but I hope it may serve to
stimulate some new lines of thought and action. should be glad of your
views.
(Passed as requested).
(Passed to Diplomatic Service Administration Office as advance copies to
the Private Office for Commonwealth Secretary, Resident Clerk and
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SECRET
kr. C. P. Rawlings
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Major Koe
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119)
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Cypher
D. 9 June 1967 R. 9
11142
PRIORITY SECRET No.808
Repeated
·
.1967
FD 1/1
Deseuseed
Diseased with Co. of 22/vi. Delon
Addressed to Commonwealth orriwell follow by them
offi
"Washington No.175 "Peking No.325
"P.A. Singapore No.170
(C.O. please pass to all
My telegram No.776.
712
p.a.
12/vi
Hong Kong disturbances.
L.I.C. assessment of the situation as at 1200 hours
9 June is as follows:
The principal features of the Communist confrontation with the
Government over the past three days have been:-
(a) Token Strikes: There was a revival of stoppages
of work, mainly in protest against Government action in taking down
posters, which affected tally-clerks and workers in the Taikoo dockyard,
the tailoring trade, one of the electric companies, the main wharf
company and Government waterworks. As a result of the stoppage by
Government waterworks employees notices of interdiction were served on
twelve workers, following which some 300 workers at the Kowloon Branch
walked out.
(b)
The partial stoppage of work at the Government slipway, operated by the
Marine Department, has continued. As a result it has been possible to
man only about 30% of the launches operated by the Department.
(c) The continued display of posters (on a somewhat
reduced scale) and newspapers containing inflammatory material by a
number of concerns under Communist control Employees of the Star Ferry
Company went on strike on 6 June 1967, following action by police to
remove posters which had been put up again on ferries. All floating
staff of the company(about 4,000)have since been suspended and the
Company is now inviting applications for re- employment but has no
intention of re-engaging the 60 persons believed to be behind the
trouble. On the morning of 8 June employees of the Government
Maintenance Garage in Kowloon and the Kowloon depot
/of
SECRET
SECRET
of the Hong Kong and China Gas Company, which are in close proximity to
each other, barricaded themselves in their respective yards and put up
posters, threatened physical violence and malicious damage to property.
Police were forced to intervene to clear the premises and arrested 545
persons of whom 115 were charged with various offences. About 15% of the
labour force of 800 at the Hong Kong Island Maintenance Depot stayed off
duty on 8 June, whilst P.W.D. electrical workers, at a Kowloon depot,
put up posters and refused to work, (a) The holding of the general
manager and assistant
general manager of the Taikoo dockyard as hostages within the dockyard
by the workers until under duress they had signed an apology for taking
down posters, agreed to the display of fresh posters, and promised not
to call in the police. Subsequently the management announced on the
night of the 7 June that there would be a temporary suspension of work
in the dockyard during which all the workers would be paid. So far,
there has been little overt reaction to this move. When the dockyard
reopens, possibly early next week, the management intends to recall only
those workers whose services they wish to retain.
(e) An attempt by the local Commmists to single out for action those
Government Departments and
European owned concerns in which they are strongest, in the hope that
they can bring them to a standstill thereby demonstrating Government's
inability to deal with the situation.
(1) The local Communist press has continued to
publicise the 3 June editorial from the People's Daily, using it as a
rallying call for their supporters in conjunction with a sustained anti-
Government propaganda campaign which reached its height on 8 June, when
articles appeared calling on Government servants to rebel and alleging
that anti-suppression groups had been formed w thin the police force.
(g) A new facet of the campaign to disaffect the
police force has appeared, this time by dissemina- tion of printed
pamphlets containing an appeal allegedly from police officers who have
"turned their guns". These documents, which have been addressed to
formations within the police force, call upon Chinese officers to turn
against the
'British leaders"
(h) A continuation of attacks by anonymous lettera
and overt propaganda, directed at. individuals and organisations
announcing their support for Government.
(1) An increase in intimidation of workers to
participate in strike action. This usually takes the form of references
to a "future day of reckoning" or an open show of force without verbal
threats.
SECRET
12.
SECRET
2. There have been reliable indications that some action in the past has
been taken, by unions and other left wing groups, without the consent or
even the knowledge of the All-Circles Anti-Persecution Struggle
Committee (A.C.A.P.S.C.) and that the local Communist hierarchy, in the
name of this body, 18 endeavouring to tighten its control. In the
context of the poster campaign, the initial reaction of the A.C.A.P.S.C.
appears to have been to refuse to remove posters but not to offer
physical resistance to their removal by the security forces. However, as
manifested by the actions of the workers in the Government Garage and
the Gas Company, there is no doubt that some elements in the local
Communist movement have recently seized upon posters as an issue on
which to have a major confrontation. While it is known that resistance
to these workers to the removal of the posters was approved by their
individual parent Union Struggle Committee, it is not clear whether or
not this line of action was authorised by the A.C.A.P.S.C. Nevertheless,
the Star Ferry stoppage illustrated that, once action has been taken by
a group of workers, the A.C.A.P.S.C. is reluctant to direct a return to
work even though, by failing to do so, it may alienate a large section
of the uncommitted population whose support it is seeking.
3. It is clear that during the past few days, following the pattern of
the Marine Department and Taikoo Docks, the Communist workers expected
to have their own way through threats of violence, thus placing the
Government in the invidious position of either retreating in the face of
open defiance or taking physical measures to maintain law and order.
provocative tactics were, of course, the same as those followed in the
demonstrations at Government House last month.
These
Lizar Although we are faced with a greater number of simultaneous
confrontations there is no evidence that these have been occasioned by
any central planning. However, there is no doubt that, individual
directions apart, the pro-Communist press has clearly incited and
stimulated workers to offer resistance where Government takes the
initiative by insisting upon the removal of inflammatory posters.
Posters, are in fact rapidly becoming the symbol of resistance to
Government authority and although the Communists are preparing for a
long struggle, a real trial of strength may be imminent, as the absence
of any prolonged resistance to police in the two actions of the 8 June
may not be truly representative.
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=
= =
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11
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SECRET
*
Mr. C.P. Rawlings
Mr. Henn
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Mr. J.A.B. Darlington
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM MONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Cypher
D. 9 June 1
1967 R. 9
10252
IMMEDIATE SECRET No.806
:
(118)
UN 1967
FOYA!
117
My telegram No.799
I have the following general comments of the situation
as reported in that telegram.
2. I believe that, at the time of drafting this (09 1545), the situation
is worse than it has been for a fortnight: although today has been
quiet, helped by heavy rain, at the hard-core, militant, level of union
leadership, we are faced with a deliberate challenge to Government's
authority. Attacke appear to be concentrating on Government Departments
and British owned firms including utilities:
to the point of violence.
and to be being pressed in some cases
3. On the other hand, the only overt support for these actions seene to
be coming from the left-wing press and posters in hard-core C.P.G.
premises. Some covert supporting economic action may be being taken and
intimidation of various kinds is of course a feature of the whole
campaign.
4. It is also the case that the Communiste, although strong enough in
the areas in which they are causing (or can cause) trouble to enable a
small number of them to intimidate the remaining workers, who lack the
courage to oppose them, nevertheless control a limited (although very
important) range of concerns only. At present, they are disrupting two
or three undertakings at one time; and they show signs of attempting
gradually to increase the number in which they foment simultaneous
stoppages. Our riposte at present is to deal with these outbreaks as
they occur, and use the opportunity each gives us to try to get rid of
the worst trouble makers in each case.
5. It remains to be seen whether our countermeasures achieve sufficient
success to weaken the communist ability to cause stoppages at will, and
to separate the militants from their more half-hearted and reluctant
adherents. The chances of this may be improved, if, as seems to be the
case, there is inadequate central direction in the communists tactics
and a degree of spontaneity in the outbreaks, Assuming reasonable
success on our part, the likely result would be another lull; probably
while the local leadership consolidated its control and built up more
formidable attack on a more solidly organised basis.
6. But if we are unsuccessful in our immediate tactics, the probability
is that the stoppages will increase in violence, frequency and duration
until there is a general stoppage. At this point, or when we see it
clearly developing, we may have to
/pull
SECRET
SECRET
pull out all the stops and hope that extreme action on our på
deportations, closing the press, etc., etc., will another the opposition
without Chinese intervention.
7. I think, therefore, we may again be approaching a crucial point in
affairs. Much will depend on the next day or two: and my purpose in this
telegram is to ensure that we do not misunder- stand each other and that
it is appreciated that I may have to take strong action soon at short
notice.
8.
Finally, public confidence is certainly suffering from the prospect of a
long-drawn-out confrontation; but remains reasonably firm under the
circumstances while police morale is still good. Any fresh statements
indicating firm U.K. support would be of great help.
(Passed to D.S.A.0. for Measra. Bolland, Wilson and
de la Mare and Private Office (Commonwealth Secretary)
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Ministry of Defence (Rm.7365)
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SECRET
1
Cypher
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 8 June, 1967.
R. 8
13152
RE ARCH
.|
woh Bur
FA
1/11
وهر
10
INMEDIATS SECRET No. 799
12-1
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.) Repeated PRIORITY to Peking
No.323
to P.A. Singapore No.169
11
Washington No.171
(8. of S. please pass to all)
SITREP as at 08/1800.
My telegram No. 785.
The storm over the removal of posters broke yesterday and continues.
There have been 7 protest strikes against Government action in the last
two days and two major concerns have suspended operations in a move to
purge their work-force of trouble-makers and re-establish discipline.
Government organisations and public utilities have again been the main
targets of strike action but no essential services have been
interrupted. The police have been mobilised in emergency structure to
prevent or deal with disorders in Kowloon and on the island. In Kowloon
tear gas has twice been used.
2.
Star Ferry crews refused to work at 06 2345. The management refused to
accede to demands for the replacement of posters and finally suspended
all workers. Re-registration has started well but resumption of
operations may be made difficult because of the hostile attitude of dock
workers near the Ferry berths.
The
3.
The Taikoo dockyard today suspended operations temporarily pending
reorganisation after it had become clear that management had lost
control. Workers are still being paid. Attempts to stir up trouble
outside the gates today were foiled by the presence of police in
strength but the militants among the workers are particularly tough.
situation remains dangerous. In Kowloon this morning, the workers at the
Government electrical and mechanical (E. and H) workshops barricaded
themselves in and began putting up posters. The scene became so unruly
that police moved in, using tear gas,
426 men were taken away for questioning of whom 8 have been detained.
Trouble also occurred at the nearby gasworks where an ugly situation
developed during the afternoon. The police again used tear gas against a
hard core barricaded into one part of the plant and 104 arrests were
made.
SECRET
14.
SECRET
40
There were also stoppages in the island
electricity station, two Government waterworks depots and the Government
.and H. workshops on Hong Kong Island. In the last three cases trouble
built up over the serving of interdiction letters and attempts to compel
the management to accept workers already interdicted as part of the
normal work-force. Further interdiction letters are to be issued
tomorrow. Meanwhile the Government dockyard continues to work with a
much reduced labour force and lighthouse maintenance men have remained
on strike. There are indications that there may be stoppages in the
telephone company, and in an urban services depot tomorrow while a
repetition of disturbances in the waterworks and the E, and M. workshops
seems probable.
5.
Hoarding of rice is causing concern. Prices are rising despite public
reassurances that more than adequate stocks are held. Although this
seems to be more of a reflex action than part of a Communist inspired
campaign, I am making special efforts to deflate the artificial market.
Action is being considered against those importers and wholesalers who
are believed to be taking advantage of the situation. There have also
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.