0003 160 G.F. 316
1.
SECRET
ACTION AGAINST COMMUNIST PRESS
BACKGROUND
Copied to to Wilson
FE.D.
15
Ar 64/12/67
At the Government House meeting on 10th November, 1967, H.E.
instructed D.C.S.(S.D.) to prepare a draft telegram to the S. of S. setting
out the Hong Kong Government's case that action against the communist press
is now essential. Special Branch have produced three comprehensive papers
over the last three months clearly stating the advantages and disadvantages
in taking action against the communist press.
The latest paper written on 7th November recommends
that the Government initially takes action to close down three communist
newspapers.
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OBJECT
The object of this paper is to establish whether action against the
communist press is now essential to the maintenance of law and order within
the Colony.
2.
(a)
SUMMARY OF FACTORS
Circulation
(b)
The Daily Comparative Circulation Figures of the Left
Wing Newspapers is attached at Annex D. Their total
х3
daily circulation is now 238,500.
The Daily Circulation Figures for all newspapers is
1.5 million.
(c)
An additional number of communist newspapers are circulated
free of charge to left wing organisations and schools.
(a)
(e)
These are displayed in public places and are read by a
considerable number of people.
The circulation of the left-wing papers is now less
than the pre-confrontation figures and has remained
steady at the new low level for three months.
The closing of three left wing newspapers did not
increase the circulation of the remaining six. In
fact the troma of decreasing circulation figures
SECRET