Mr. Carter
SECRET
Reference..
15
2.
The Hong Kong telegram at (4) raises three points:-
(a) Should action be taken now by the Hong Kong Government against certain sections of the local Press to deal with the stream of libellous and seditious statements, incitement to disaffection and violence, and general invective that they are pouring out?
If so,
(b) Should action be taken under the normal law?
or
(c) Should it be taken by way of Emergency Regulations?
This file contains all the references that have been made, since the start of the disturbances, to the question of taking action against the Press.
3.
As regards (a) above, the Acting Governor considers that the current situation in the Colony is such as to demand action
It is now against the Press, and he gives his reasons. perhaps a matter for conjecture whether it is primarily the morale of the general public which is being affected or whether
As it is that of the unofficial members of the Government. the Acting Governor says, the Press is now one of the Communists' few remaining weapons left intact. It could be argued that it provides a safety valve and that if this safety valve were turned off, it might well cause Communist elements to turn to even more extreme measures than they have so far adopted, particularly if they managed to obtain firearms which, so far, they have not used. However, the Acting Governor is definitely of the opinion that the time has come to clamp down on the Press and I think we must accept his opinion.
4.
As regards (b) and (c), on 13 May, right at the beginning of the disturbances, the Governor considered the
para 4 of 14) Flag B. question of taking action against the Press under existing
para 4
of (1c). Frag
C
law and saw a number of difficulties: at that time the question of using Emergency Regulations was not mentioned. These latter were first mentioned by the Governor on 23 May when he told us that on Executive Council's advice, he was putting Emergency Regulations to the Council to deal with subversive publications and to give him better powers to act against the Press, although he was reluctant to use them. While Sir Arthur Galsworthy was in Hong Kong, he sent us a telegram saying that if a stage were reached when action against the Communist Press had to be considered, it had been
IA - Fry agreed that it would be much swifter and more effective to
D
para 5 of
powe of
1. Flag E
व
d (2218) on
Vol Co play
use Emergency Regulations than to prosecute under the existing law.
On 25 May, the Secretary of State himself replied (after consulting D.O.P.C.) agreeing that if the Communist Press continued to carry out or step up their campaign of sedition and intimidation, the Governor should use Emergency Regulations to close down the printing presses, but he asked to be consulted before any such action was actually taken.
5.
It would clearly be preferable to take action under existing law if this proved practicable and effective:
/it
but
SECRET