TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
| H
Cypher
D. 13th May 1967 R. 13th
#1
0340Z
PRIORITY SECRET No.595
Addressed to Commonwealth Office Repeated "Peking No.213
11
"POLAD Singapore No.80
(S. of S. please pass to both)
My telegram No.583:
Kowloon Disturbances.
The tone of the left-wing press, in particular the C.P.G.-controlled semi-official Ta Kung Pao and the Wen Wei Pao, has steadily deteriorated over the past week or so but has not previously reached the level of vituperation of yesterday's editorials. These are now being carefully studied by my advisers.
2.
Subject to considered legal opinion of the evidence in detail, it seems more than likely that it will be found to provide grounds for the prosecution of both papers either for seditious publications under section 4 of the Sedition Ordinance (Cap.217) or for attempts to cause disaffection in the police under section 62 of the Police Force Ordinance (Cap.232) or both. In any event, this situation seems certain to arise fairly soon, at the present rate of deterioration, unless steps can be taken to stop it. There is also a possibility of these papers coming into contempt of court.
3. We are making every effort through informal contacts and intermediaries to get it across to the left-wing leadership that the present line taken by the press is risking a major confrontation. Nevertheless, it is now necessary to examine the implications of a further deterioration.
4. There are, of course, risks that prosecutions may, even if resulting in convictions, fail to prove an adequate
They would be deterrent or to achieve any real improvement. strongly contested and provide undesirable opportunities for
In the event of a conviction, they would political propaganda.
In this connection you will recall be likely to go to appeal. the generally unsatisfactory outcome of the prosecution of the Ta Kung Pao in 1952 (our savingram No.1337 of 19 August 1952 refers). The situation might also arise when on instituting proceedings or following a conviction it might be necessary to apply to the court for the suspension or suppression of the newspaper under section 4 of The Control of Publications Consolidation Ordinance (Cap.268).
5. It seems inevitable that any attempt to prosecute or suppress these left-wing papers would result in formal protests from Peking, even though there is no evidence at present to
/suggest
SECRET