M4:4, 5/20
SECRET
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO3047 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
-3-
WITH PROMINENCE TO THE OPENING OF NEW ESTABLISHMENT. IN SPITE OF
EFFORTS TO GIVE THE NEWSPAPERS WIDER APPEAL, THERE HAS BEEN NO
IMPROVEMENT IN THE CIRCULATION OF COMMUNIST PAPERS OVER THE PAST
THREE MONTHS SEMICOLON CIRCULATION NOW IS 245,000, SOME
100,000 LESS THAN IN EARLY 1967, AND NOW REPRESENTS
APPROXIMATELY 18 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION
OF THE COLONY. AT A RECENT MEETING OF PRESS PERSONALITIES
IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT FURTHER AMERICAN ADVERTISING SHOULD BE
ACCEPTED (PARAGRAPH 1(G) OF TELEGRAM 743), IN AN ENDEAVOUR TO
INCREASE REVENUE, WHICH REMAINS A MATTER FOR CONCERN IN COMMUNIST
CIRCLES. WITHOUT SOME FORM OF SUBSIDY FROM CHINA FEW OF THESE
PAPERS COULD SURVIVE.
(G) COMPARATIVE QUIET ON THE LAND FRONTIER WITH NO CHANGE IN THE
OVERALL PATTERN OF ACTIVITIES. CIT IS NOT INTENDED TO CONTINUE
REPORTING ON THIS AREA UNLESS THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT EVENT OR CHANGE
IN THE SITUATION THERE).
(H) THE ARRIVAL IN COLONY WATERS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BY JUNK FROM
YEUNG KWONG AND TOI SHAN COUNTIES (TELEGRAM 1041). POLICE HAVE SEIZED
24 JUNKS AND ARRESTED 254 FISHERFOLK SEMICOLON 99 PERSONS HAVE SO FAR
BEEN PERMITTED TO REMAN IN HONG KONG AND RELEASED WHILST 18 JUNKS
HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER TO A C.P.G. SHIPPING COMPANY FOR RETURN TO
+
CHINA. FURTHER ARRIVALS CAN OCCUR ALTHOUGH WE MAY EXPECT THE C.P.G.
TO TAKE FIRMER MEASURES IN ITS CONTROL OVER COMMUNE FISHING FLEETS.
2. IT APPEARS FROM THE SECRECY SURROUNDING THE 'OPENING CEREMONY OF
THE CHUNG WA SCHOOL AND THE INTENTION TO HOLD CLASSES CLANDESTINELY
IN OTHER SCHOOL PREMISES, THAT THE DEREGISTRATION ISSUE WILL BE
ALLOWED TO DIE GRADUALLY, AT LEAST FOR NOW. AT THE SAME TIME THE
COMMUNISTS MAY HOPE TO MAINTAIN MORALE IN EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES BY
FOCUSING ATTENTION ON THE EXPANSION OF SCHOOLS IN OTHER PARTS
OF THE COLONY.
SECRET
/3. WE