Portuguese were remaining in Macao only on sufferance and
subject to them falling in with Chinese wishes on all pin
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REVIVED IN ARC!!
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FD!!!
kir. O'Neill
11
M. Mulley has
CABINET
DOM 25/V
DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY COMMITTEE
HONG KONG
I attach a brief for the meeting of the Defence
and Oversea Policy Committee on 25 May, commenting on
the Commonwealth Secretary'a memorandum (attached).
Mr. de la Mare has seen and agreed.
105
2. A separate brief will be submitted on events in
China.
John Densu
(J. B. Denson) 24 May, 1967
t
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ilvi
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f Theme News
Cysmy.
CABINET
DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY COMMITTEE
HONG KONG
TALKING POINTS
1. Chinese Motives and Intentions
We agree with the general line of paragraphs 1 to 5 of the
Commonwealth Secretary's Memorandum on Chinese Motives and
intentions. Of the various alternatives in paragraph 4, we
think 4(1) is the more likely, although (ii) probably represents
what the Chinese regard as their present maximum objective.
2. On paragraph 3, we think it likely that there are divergent
views in the Chinese leadership on how to deal with the problem
of Hong Kong as between the moderates, who take full account of
the Colony's benefit to China, and the extremists, who are
prepared to push ideology and damn the consequences. There is
some evidence that present policy represents an uneasy compromise
between these two lines of thought. It is clearly in our
interests to do everything possible to ensure that the "moderates"
are encouraged. This is best done by carefully graduating our
response to Chinese actions and leaving the door open for
a settlement.
The firm but unprovocative measures of the
Governor are conducive to this end.
Measures
3. We have already supported the Governor's measures to
neutralise buildings from which the pro-Communist campaign is being
directed and to bring in H.M.S. Bulwark (paragraphs Nos.7(1)
(a) and (b)). We also agree that the Governor should have
discretion to make arrests of pro-Communists, but we consider
that it might be better not even to go through the motions of
deportation as the Chinese will certainly not accept auch
deportees (paragraph 7(1)(c))
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14.
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2.
We agree that the Hong Kong Government should be given
general authority to act against the Communist printing presses
(paragraph 7(1)(a))
5. We agree about the importance of pressing ahead with
improvements in labour legislation. One possibility is that
the Governor should be asked to open a commission of enquiry
into the labour disputes which sparked off the present
disturbances.
In this way we would emphasise the origins of
the disputes and possibly give the pro-Communist leadership in
Hong Kong a facesaving device for claiming victory while in no
way damaging our own position (paragraph 7(ii)).
Facilities for United States' Forces
6. We agree with the recommendation in paragraph 7(iii).
Guidelines have been agreed with the United States on the use
of Hong Kong as a leave centre for United States troops in
Vietnam. By this we limit the number of warships and military
personnel visiting Hong Kong. Although in the past two years
there has been an increase in numbers, we have tried to achieve
this gradually and without publicity. Since the disturbances in
Hong Kong, our policy has been to allow United States' visits to
continue but to cancel arrangements for visits by any large or
conspicuous, e.g. nuclear, warships. Any significant drop in
the rate of American visits at present would be claimed by the
Chinese as a victory and lead to further pressure designed to
force us to prohibit such visits altogether. But the Governor
has proposed (since the paper was drafted) that we work out with
the Americans some reduction in the use of Hong Kong by their
In the case of naval visits, there should be
forces.
a restriction to small unite with occasional and well-spaced
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/visits
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3.
visits of larger units.
This is reasonable and we would be
willing to put the proposal to the Americans.
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RECEIVED IM
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103
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Private Secretary
HONG KONG
-1 JUN 15 and I State
FO!/
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The Secretary of State has asked why we agreed that the
atatement on the disturbances be put out by the Commonwealth
Office in London and not in Hong Kong, as he approved on
Monday, 15 May.
2.
The reasons were:
(a) The Governor of Hong Kong had already made a etaterent
on Monday without consulting London. As directed by
the Secretary of State, the Governor was asked to explain
this. He did so in paragraph 1 of his telegram No. 612.
We accepted that, as he had put out this statement
-38
[102
(b)
(text attached) saying, inter alia, that "an answer must
come from H.M.G. in London", we should not insist that he
put out another.
The Governor argued strongly that the reaction of
ordinary citizens in Hong Kong to Communist pressure was
going to be crucial and would depend on their judgement
of H.M.G.'s determination to resist pressure and to
uphold the Governor in maintaining law and order.
Governor was quite clear that it was a statement from
London that was needed.
The
(c) The reason for our original recommendation that the
staterent be put out in Hong Kong was to try to avoid
a polemical exchange with Peking and to concentrate
attention on the local, primarily industrial issues in-
volved. Having accepted the Governor's arguments in
(a) and (b), the Commonwealth Office and we thought we
could still achieve this result by issuing a factual
non-polemical statement and having it put out by the
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/Commonwealth
1
SEORFE
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 mention the Peking statement and refer
to its "demands".
The Governor recommended that we put out our statement as
soon as possible because public expressions of support for the
Government which was beginning to make itself felt needed an
additional boost. Commonwealth Office Ministers took the view
that in these circumstances a statement should be issued here
forthwith. In the Secretary of State's absence, we therefore
cleared the draft statement with Mr. Rodgers and the Permanent
Under-Secretary. I also left a copy in the Private Office
with a verbal explanation of our action as the afternoon box
was just being closed.
The statement was put out by the Commonwealth Office st
5.00 p.m. yesterday.
c.c.
Mr. Rodgers P.U.S.
Mr. de la Mare
سمارة
(E. Bolland) 18 May, 1967
a
19/5
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T TEVENS GI KUU PÊUT
- 151967
FAC
consider it necessing to state the facts
·
[02]
3.3.0. Pegret that tuo stātament issueu la Faking on May 15th
N.G. abo to disturbances in Hong Kong showid-apparently have boon_based
on inaccurate reports about "thë actusi esnese of avaRÉS,
tave facts are as follows.
The
The
2. The recent disturbances in Kowloon arose from an industrial dispute
in April between workes and their employers about wages and conditions f
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 ifer was refused by
Fɔth sides,
t.
·
anake out on the 6th May takde ore ·f these
actories whẩca más situated in Toul son, The police clearly informed
those involved of the laws -overning peaceful picketing, warned them
repeatedly of the conseruences of disorder and urged them tɔ desist.
These rings went unheeded, and the alice
were therefore obliged to act to ten; the prece, tea re ult, 21 persons
were arreste...!. Subsequent efforts by the Labour Department to ering
the parties together to discuss their difficulties and try to reach an a
reed settlement were frustrated by the o toreak of further disorders on
May 11th in the vicinity of the same factory. Again after repeated
warnings the police were obliged t. take action to keep the peace and
143 persoN S Dere arrested. there were more disorders in the some area
between 12th and 14th May and a further 257 persons were arrested,
11 cames of arrest are being treated in the normal way in accordance
with the due process of the iner. By 17th Way of those arrested 123 had
been charged with riot, 100 with unlawful rssembly, 91 with breaking the
curfew and 88 with such offences as assault and afiray, 14 have been
released nå thout charges preferred and 12 have been acquitted,
Throughout the disturbances the Hong Kong police, " number of whom were
injured in the three days of rioting, have shown great rest aint in
carrying out their responsibilities and have used the minimm force.
5. In labour watters the Hong Yong Government's policy is to make
available the specialist services of its Labour Department
to tive impartial help to mnagement and trade unions to settle
ony
any dispute that may arise between them.
it has alrendy done
so on this occasion and remains ready to do all it can to facilitate a
settlement,
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, B.M.C. fully support the Hong Kong Government in fulfilling
its duty both in waintaining 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 menagement and trade unions would sit down together
to discuss it in reason and gooderi 11.
|
Secretary of State
attached
beland
2.
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HONG KONG
RECEIVED IN j ARCHIVES No.31;
- 1 JUN 1967
FO 1/1
Mr. de la Mare.
Action taken here yesterday was as follows:
(a) The Commonwealth Office issued a
statement on the Kowloon disturbances.
The reasons why this statement was issued
here have been sent to you separately.
(b) We began discussions with the
Commonwealth Office on contingency planning.
Our view remains that the Chinese do not wish
to force us out of Hong Kong. They
probably wish to humiliate us to the
maximum extent without provoking us to
leave. It is however possible that they
may have to go beyond even what they intend
because of pressure put upon them by the
militante and their internal need to be
seen to be as "revolutionary" as their
supporters.
小
18/5
In consultation with us, the Commonwealth Office prepared
a message from the Commonwealth Secretary to the Governor which
we proposed Kr. Bowden should send to the Prime Minister and
you in draft. Mr. Bowden, however, decided to delay seeking
the views of the Prime Minister and yourself until he had had
/a further
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A
a further exchange of views with the Governor.
He therefore
sent a telegram to the Governor last night, a copy of which
is attached. The Foreign Office were told that Mr. Bowden
had decided to handle matters this way. We were not
5 consulted in the preparation of the telegram as despatched,
but in fact it closely follows the draft prepared by Foreign
Office and Commonwealth Office officials.
Contingency
3. We are in touch with the Ministry of Defence.
arrangements to reinforce the troops in Hong Kong if Ministers
should decide to do so are being made.
Copies to: Mr. Rodgers
P.U.S.
Mr. Bolland
Af. de lathan.
(A.J. de la Mare)
18 May, 1967
Discursed with fols.
An
19/5
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Folio al..
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