Conclusions
17. The activities of the communist schools
and press present the most dangerous problem
now facing the Hong Kong authorities, both in
the short and the long term. The communist
press still publishes a very considerable
number of seditious statements daily, but we
are inhibited from touching it: the last
time action was taken to curb the prese it
was followed by the attack on our Mission in
Peking. The activities of Chung Wah school
fully justify deregistration. To allow it tɖ
reopen would be another step in the erosion of
the authority of the Hong Kong Government
which would not escape public notice, with
damaging effect on public confidence;
it
would also badly hamper the Hong Kong
authorities in their efforts to curb the
spread and activities of the communist school
system. We feel that we must accept the
Governor's assessment of the importance, in the
domestic context, of proceeding to deregister
this school.
18.
There will undoubtedly be a Chinese
reaction, but it is not easy to assess the
degree or the form it will take. Deregistra
tion could be regarded as provocative by the
they are sensitive to any action
which they might regard as persecution of
communists:
their schools. If they genuinely feel
concern their reaction could be sharp,
although it must be tempered by the fact that
the circumstances in which the school was
closed are publicly known and that the action
taken was widely supported.
In any event it
/is likely
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