VARIOUS SHOTS .. PROCESSION; STREET SCENES MACAO -- (NATURAL SOUND THROUGHOUT.)




Initials DHC/VS/AS/ES



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Background: LEFTIST CHINESE STAGED A MASS RALLY THROUGH THE STREETS OF PORTUGUESE MACAO YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) TO CELEBRATE THE 18TH NATIONAL DAY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. SLOGANS DENOUNCED BRITISH "IMPERIALISM" AND CALLED ON CHINESE IN MACAO TO SUPPORT THE ANTI-BRITISH STRUGGLE IN HONG KONG.

UNLIKE HONG KONG, THERE WERE NO RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS IN MACAO. STREET PARADES AND PARTIES WERE CARRIED ON IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF GAIETY AND COLOUR.

MARCHERS CARRIED BANNERS, SLOGANS AND HUGE PORTRAITS OF CHAIRMAN MO TSE-TUNG. ARMED POLICE STOOD BY, BUT THERE WERE NO VIOLENT INCIDENTS.

ONE SLOGAN READ: "BY PREPARED TO RESPOND TO THE CALL OF THE MOTHERLAND AT ANY TIME TO SMASH THE REACTIONARY RULE OF BRITISH IMPERIALISM."
THERE WERE NO SLOGANS CRITICISING THE PORTUGUESE AUTHORITIES IN MACAO. THE ONLY DIRECT REFERENCE TO THE PORTUGUESE OVERSEAS PROVINCE WAS A BANNER WHICH READ: "LONG LIVE THE GREAT UNITY OF THE COMPATRIOTS OF MACAO".

FIREWORKS, SHOUTED SLOGANS, REVOLUTIONARY SONGS AND AMPLIFIED MUSIC FORMED A BACKDROP TO THE RALLY BY ABOUT 15,000 LEFTIST IN THE CITY.