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also enquired whether it would be possible for the plaintiffs in the libel
action against the Wen Wei Pao to waive their claim for damages.
8. In his telegram No.1820 of 5 December the Governor expressed his anxiety
to do anything possible to help our Mission in Peking, but pointed out that
there was little indication in Hong Kong itself of any attempt by the
Communists to restore the situation to normal. Regular bomb attacks were
continuing and the Communist press was maintaining its virulent criticism
of Government and incitement to violence. Any substantial concessions to the
Communists could well lead to further demands from them as well as to a loss
of public confidence. There could be no question of attempting to interfere
with the normal processes of law insofar as the punishment of arrested pupils
and teachers was concerned.
9. The Governor then suggested that in order to help to ease the situation
vis-a-vis Peking it might be possible for him to go along the following lines
in dealing with the major current issues;-
(1) The Executive Council had advised the de-registration of the
school which had been closed, but the timing of this step
could be arranged to take place at the most expedient moment.
(2) The detention of the arrested headmaster could be reconsidered
at a later date, but the Governor doubted if it would be
desirable to take this step in addition to any decision not to
de-register the school.
(3) He would be prepared to ask the plaintiff in the libel action
against the Wen Wei Pao if he would be willing to waive his
claim for damages (due to be assessed on 14 December). If
this concession had any useful effect on the attitude of the
C.P.G. he would be prepared to consider similar action in the
other three outstanding cases.
(4) He would be prepared to delay for a time the seizure of the
assets of the three newspapers suspended in August (see paragraph 2
above), which have not yet paid the fines then imposed on them.
But this action would eventually need to be taken in time to
prevent the newspapers resuming publication in February.
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/(5)