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An Clair
HUB
Crijada нов
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 7th May, 1967
R. 7th
tr
11
0500Z
IMMEDIATE No. 552
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.) Repeated
11
"Peking No. 194.
Political Adviser Singapore No. 62.
The Left-Wing papers this morning (7th May) devote the whole of their
front pages and Hong Kong news pages and space on other pages to highly
critical reports, photographs and commentator articles about an incident
during a labour dispute at an artificial flower factory on 6th lay in
which the police arrested 21 workers.
2. The line taken is that this bloody suppression of patriotic workers
and patriotic compatriots by the police was pre-planned and organised
and was of a piece with the action taken on 4th May at the walled city
and with the earlier protection given to the United States/ Chiang
elements in the dispute at the Nanfung textile factory in Taun Wan,
30 The Ta Kung Pao commentator asks whether the British authorities in
Hong Kong intended to provoke the Chinese residents and says that people
are looking closely to see how the British authorities will deal with
the matter. The Wenwei Po commentator asks whether the British
authorities dare openly to be enemies of the Chinese people and if so
whether they have thought out the consequences the consequences will
certainly not be
good.
-
(Advance copy passed to Resident Clerk.)
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#t
1 1
LAST
REF.
KLAI
Nte.
2
F.E.D.
Overseas Labour Adviser
ва
め
Cypher
HGA
Engenalan Hid 5/12
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 7th May, 1967
It R. 7th
051 52
لم
IMMEDIATE CONFIDENTIAL
No. 553
Addressed to Commonwealth office (D.T.D.) Repeated to Peking No. 195
11
P.A. Singapore No. 63 (s. of S.please pass to both)
During last week an industrial dispute developed in two factories
belonging to the Hong Kong artificial flower works. The management
eventually decided to lock out the workers from the injection moulding
sections of both factories and subsequently arranged to discharge them
and pay their wages due.
2. About three-quarters of the workers accepted their wages. But on 6th
May in the Kowloon factory where Left-Wing elements are strong, workers
on picket attempted forcibly to prevent the removal of goods from the
factory by lorry. They were warned by police that they were exceeding
the rights of peaceful picketing but persisted in their action,
Eventually scuffles developed and 18 were arrested by the police using
batons only.
3. Later a further three workers visited the police station where the
men were detained to lodge a protest against the arrests. They were
recognised as having played a leading part in the disturbances and also
arrested; one of them was later found to be the Chairman of the
Left-Wing Rubber and Plastic Workers' Union, which has a membership of
just under 1,200 of whom only 30 are employed in the factory.
4. All the men were detained and will be charged with "besetting" under
the Trade Union Registration Ordinance and with unlawful assembly. They
include the Chairman of the Union and 5 members.
CONFIDENTIAL
1
ງ
/ 5.
CONFIDENTIAL
5. This morning the situation outside the factory is quiet and there
have been no pickets. Work continues in those sections of the factory
not affected by the strike and the management is continuing to move out
further consignments of goods, so far without attracting attention or
interference.
Бо
There is every indication that this was a spontaneous incident.
Senior officials of the Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) were kept
informed of events and have held discussions with leaders of the Left
Wing union concerned, but so far appear to be undecided as to what
further action to take. Certainly the FTU will be obliged to at least
voice some strong protest against the arrest of the Chairman and members
of one of its affili- ated unions We can expect the Left-Wing press to
continue a violent anti-Government line, and other Left- Wing
organisations in Hong Kong to voice their sympathy and support for the
arrested workers.
•
(Passed as requested)
(Advance copy to Resident Clerk.)
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CONFIDENTIAL
HUA
品
Cripicola ника
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
En clair D. 8th May, 1967.
R. 8th
10112
PRIORITY
No. 557.
Addressed to Commonwealth office. Repeated
Peking No. 197.
POLAD Singapore No. 64.
The left wing papers this morning (8th May) continue to give
full front page and Hong Kong news page treatment to the incident at the
artificial flower factory and publish editorials on this and other
recent incidents.
2. The Rubber and Plastic Workers' Union met laat night
and decided to put forward four demands:-
(a) immediate release of the workers arrested,
(b) punishment of the evil doers and compensation,
(c) guarantee of the workers personal safety,
(a)
no interference henceforth by the police in labour disputea.
3. The line taken in the editorials is that the British Authorities in
a planned and premediated way have organised a series of bloody
repressions of workers and patriotic compatriots in the Kowloon area,
amounting to Fascist violence. The workers did not break any law in the
artificial flower factory dispute: they were merely demanding the
cancellation of some new regulations imposed by the management. If the
British Authorities in Hong Kong did not deliberately fabricate this
incident and are not attempting to enlarge it, they ought to recognise
the error which they committed on 6th May and immediately accept the
workers' "few minimum demands",
4.
The Ta Kung Po editorial refers to the increased use of Hong
Kong by U.S. imperialism as an aggressive base and to the anti-China
activities of the imperialists, revisionists and the reactionaries. It
goes on to say that after the Macao affair many U.S./Chiang elements
concentrated in Hong Kong carry out their activities and that most of
the incidents which have accurred have been stirred up by U.S./Chiang
elements. Wen Wei Pao editorial says "we consider that the imperialists
who deliberately undertook the violent and bloody repression of
patriotic compatriots will definitely come to no good end, nor will
those traitorous Chinese running dogs who "help them". We hope that
those policemen who, under the protection of the
/Hong Kong
Лафа
The
2
4
Hong Kong British, assisted in this atrocity in persecuting their
compatriots will sincerely pay attention, without delay turn around and
not shamefully do wrong to the people of their mother country.
today.
5.
The 21 workers arrested on 6th May appeared in court One pleaded guilty
to unlawful assembly and was fined (HK)100. The others pleaded not
guilty and were remanded on bail until 16th May. So far none has yet
raised ball and they are all therefore still in custody.
(Passed to D.S.A.0. for repetition to Peking
and POLAD Singapore)
Distribution
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- I.G.D.
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11
ice
11
F.E.D.
Overseas Labour Adviser
[
En Clair
No.561
Convened an HLIN 1/12
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 9th May 1967 R. 9th
+
0930Z
4
Addressed to Commonwealth Office Repeated
"Peking No.198
" POLAD Singapore No.65
The left-wing papers this morning (9th May)
continued to give full front page treatment to the incident at the
plastic factory on 6th May. They report that on 8th May the Executive
Committee of the Federation of Trade Unions met and issued a statement
condemning what it called police interference in labour disputes and the
unprecedentedly serious, bloody and repressive violence. It alleged that
about 100 patriotic workers and campatriots who were bystanders were
beaten up. This incident was not accidental:
"It occurred
at a time when Hong Kong has become a military base for aggression in
Vietnam which is being increasingly used by U.S. imperialism and when
imperialists, revisionists and reactionaries are undertaking all
conceivable sorts of anti- China activities; obviously the British
authorities in Hong Kong in showing their hand were acting in an
organised, planned and premeditated way. The British authorities in Hong
Kong have all along tolerated and protected U.S./Chiang elements,
fabricated disputes and provoked acts of violence", The statement then
referred briefly to the Nanfeng Textile Company the Taxi Company, the
Green Island Cement Factory and the Kowloon Walled City disputes.
2. The Rubber and Plastic Workers' Union also held an emergency meeting
on 8th May and established an 'anti- persecution struggle comittee'
which swore not to rest until complete victory had been achieved.
3. The left-wing papers also printed short commentaries which said that
the British authorities are attempting to treat the workers who had been
unreasonably beaten up and arrested 'criminals' and to use 'the law' to
deal with them. They conclude that 'whether or not the situation worsens
is entirely for the British authorities in Hong Kong to decide. People
are closely watching to see how they will act'.
ав
40 The papers also include reports of the proceedings at the magistracy
on 8th May which allege inter alia that the authorities attempted to
trick the workers into adnitting their guilt by raising bail but the
workers 'refused to admit guilt and decided to stay in prison and enter
into a struggle against the violent persecution of the British
authorities'
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L
Overseas Labour Adviser
9
مرا
PAD
En clair
Chigned an HLD 5/12
Спіўшава
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 11th May, 1967.
R. 11th "
07152
INMEDIATE
No. 574
Addressed to Commonwealth Office. Repeated
"Peking, No. 200.
"POLAD Singapore, No. 67.
The main left wing papers on 10th May devoted most
of their front page, their Hong Kong page and three other full pages
(one of photographs and two of readers' letters) to industrial disputes.
Most of the space was taken up with reports of support to the plastic
factory workers by various other unions and organisations (e.g. The Hong
Kong Branch of Hsinhua News Agency). The editorials take the line that
the plastic workers' struggle is just and that their demands should be
met by the British Authorities.
2.
The left wing papers on 11th May devote the whole of their front and
Hong Kong news pages and three other full pages to the current disputes.
Again most of the reports are about expressions of sympathy and support
by other unions and organisations. One of the major reports however
alleges that the workers still in detention had been beaten up by police
in the police station and in prison.
The
3. The Ta Kung Pao editorial is entitled "this violence must be stopped
immediately", This too contains the allegation of police brutality
towards those arrested and the lack of medical attention. "This is
appalling fascist brutality. British Authorities in acting in this
violent way can only be pouring oil on the fire of anti-persecution
indignation of the broad masses of patriotic compatriots in Hong Kong,
As every- body knows the use by the Germans of concentration camps and
the Japanese Imperialists of prisons.......only speeded their defeat.
Today's broad masses of patriotic compatriots in Hong Kong have raised
high the red banner of Mao Tse-Tung's thoughts, dare to struggle and are
afraid of nothing. We advise the British Authorities in Hong Kong that
they ought immediately to stop this violence otherwise all consequences
will be entirely your responsibility. As for those few Hong Kong British
special agents and prison underlings who have evilly beaten up the
Chinese compatriots they ought to wake up: if they remain obdurate
"national discipline will not tolerate them" The blood debt they owe to
compatriots will one day have to be paid."
14.
LAST
AFF
4
6
рад
40
The Wen Wei Pao editorial, entitled "The blood debt
must be repaid" makes the following points.
"The Hong Kong British in accordance with U.S. imperialism's anti-China
(policy) deliberately engaged in bloody violence and carried out racial
oppression of our patriotic compatriots. Do you think that with the help
of a few hired ruffians you can use force to frighten and beat into
submission patriotic compatriots? As for those few willing running dogs
of imperialism and racial remnants who have persecuted patriotic
compatriots, such as the special riot squad reared by the Hong Kong
British, those few plain clothes special agents and people like the one
who claimed to be Inspector Mok belonging to Police Department and the
warders at Victoria Prison who willingly follow the orders of the Hong
Kong British and wickedly persecute Chinese compatriots by cruel and
hair-raising ways, they will be exposed. We warn these (people) who have
sold their soul to imperialism and help the enemy cruelly to persecute
their own compatriots that they cannot come to any good end. The blood
debt will certainly be repaid. If you remain obdurate, national
discipline will not tolerate you. 1+
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*
ル
11
ו
"
==
Overseas Labour Adviser
Mr. de la Mare
Mr. Denson
Mr. Wilson
Cypher
Emicicl
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
on HWAY
TO THE COMMonwealth OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
TRON HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 11th May, 1967. R. 11th
悼
10402
७
FLASH
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 579
#
H
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.). Repeated PRIORITY to Peking
No. 202.
"Political Adviser, Singapore,
No. 69 (C.O. please pass b both.)
S
My telegram No. 574.
Industrial Disputes.
This afternoon workers again demonstrated outside the Hong Kong
artificial flower works in San Po Kong, Kowloon, and held an illegal
meeting which grew to about 1,500. The demonstrators pushed against the
gates of the factory and management fearing that the gates would break,
called upon the police for help and protection.
2.
Police tried to reason with the demonstrators and to encourage
them to disperse, warning that they were committing an offence: the
demonstrators persisted in their action. Bottles and refuse were then
thrown at the police: eventually scuffles developed and some 60 were
arrested by the police using batons and baton shells only.
30
Situation as reported at 1830 local time was that police had general
control over the area and were dealing with some tip-and-run scuffling.
Riot squads are being withdrawn as far as possible to minimise
provocation,
4. Attempts have been made today to make an informal contact with the
Left wing leadership with a view to explaining the Government position:
that Hong Kong depends for its existence on stability and confidence:
that the policy is now, as always, to maintain the law impartially: that
whilst the workers and trade unions have every right to act within the
law relating to trade disputes, Government must take action when
breaches of the peace occur.
(Passed as requested)
/Distribution;
CONFIDENTIAL
NEF
5 7
D
L. F
to
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H.K. W.I.D. 'C' I.G.D.
Mr. de la Mare
11
#
Mr. Denson
幛
I
Mr. Wilson
Mr. Foggon
CONFIDENTIAL
Oypher
7
HUD
(pict
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 11th May, 1967 R. 11th
13452
FLASH
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 580
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.) Repeated to Peking No. 203
rt
"
P.A. Singapore No. 70
(please paas IMMEDIATE
to both)
My immediately preceding telegram.
Industrial Dispute.
Later this evening, situation deteriorated and I have called out
the Auxiliary Police and have ordered a curfew covering the disturbed
area of North East Kowloon only, from 2130 hours this evening to 0530
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.