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The HONG KONG NEWS is a normal paper and
correct reporter except for its leaders which are
political articles, at first anti-Chiang Kai Shek,
thom pity antid British and a recent leader was
The issues of 12.11.39 and 3.12.39
pro-British.
contained anti-Soviet items. The "proprieters" have
tried several Europeans on their editorial staff but
they do not remain long. The cost of producing
these newspapers must reach a high figure out of all
proportion to their combined revenue. This concern
is also suspected of sidelines and is apparently
interested in a Chinese concern attempting to gather
data on Chinese commerce in Hong Kong by circularising
Chinese firms in the guise of intending to publish an
"overseas Chinese trade directory" but local Chinese
suspect its motives and it is having no support, here
again expense is being incurred with nothing to show
recompense. Other Japanese investigators are at work
in the Colony, one calls himself representative of the
South China Economic Investigation Association of Tokyo,
he says he watches newspapers and sends in reports on
economics, another has set up office as correspondent
of the "Oriental Economist". There are signs of Japanese
concentrating on furthering commerce in Canton and a
local suspect Japanese financier is financing new Japane se
concerns in Canton and Hong Kong. Japanese restaurateurs
have been given concessions there and a Japanese sponsored
business clearing house has been opened in Hong Kong for
the purpose of forwarding goods in Chinese names to Canton
and graft and flying the five bar flag are said to protect
such shipments from Japanese naval action en route. The
Canton branch of the Formosa Development Company conferred
with the Hong Kong representative following "hich after a
12