COPY FOR
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (O.A.G.)
TRATION
५
Do
Cypher
26 July, 1967. R. 26 tt
04502
LAST
REF.
PEAT
22
IMMEDIATE SECRET
JUIL
No. 1112.
Addressed to Commonwealth office.
Repeated
"Peking No. 451.
"Singapore No. 267.
(C.O. please pass both).
2
My telegrams Nos. 595 and 1058 and your telegrams
(()() Fos. 1038 (paragraph 4) and 1489.
Communist Press.
As a consequence of the failure or virtual failure of all Communist moves so far and of the firm police action over the past two weeks, the Press is now one of the Communists' few remaining weapons still intact.
We know the
major newspapers have for some time been daily expecting Government action against them. Despite (or perhaps because of) this, the Press continues to pour forth a stream of seditious and libellous statements, incitement to disaffection and violence, false news and general invective.
2.
Our
This, is inevitably having some effect on public morale as well as being the main driving force behind the confrontation by sustaining the hard-core Communists and encouraging the merely hooligan elements in lawlessness. restraint is all the less understood now that we have shown our ability to take strong and effective action and when Communist morale is low and their Press the main outward manifestation of confrontation remaining.
30 I appreciate there are risks in acting against the Press. The three leading papers (aggregate circulation 141,700) are to all intents and purposes C.P.G.-owned and, while it would be possible to act initially against only the six independently owned papers (aggregate circulation 269,000), it would probably not be possible to avoid proceeding against the leading papers eventually. Reliable information indicates they have alternative printing and publishing arrangements ready if action against individual papers is taken.
40 Provided, however, that the N.C.N.A. were not touched (and I have no intention of acting against them) it possible that Peking might not be provoked into any retaliation against Hong Kong.
HWAT
49617Ar
ON SE NI CAREY
SECRET
150
RECEDED IN ARCHIVES Nɔ. 63
26
JUL 1987
HWA 14/321