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Relations
with China
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135. After a hesitant start, relations with Canton and South China developed favourably. On the British side a series of minor gestures were made: immigration restrictions which caused resentment in Kwangtung were lifted somewhat before circumstances justified the step, twenty-seven Japanese ships, temporarily held for use in Hong Kong's rehabilitation, were released to the Canton authorities well before the time set by the formal agreement, and small quantites of various kinds of stores were sent to the Provincial and Municipal authorities to relieve their more pressing wants.
136. The effect of these, and other actions of a similar sort, was reflected in the growing friendliness of the leading Chinese officials. It is fair to say that, if there was initial suspicion and hositility, the atmosphere had improved con- siderably by the close of the Military period. The Commander- in-Chief and the senior officers of the Colony exchanged courtesy visits with the Chinese leaders in Canton and Chungking, and there was increasing evidence that the desire for co-operation expressed by the latter was not merely a matter of words.
no
137. The Colony was plagued by an abundance of minor quasi-official Chinese missions. At one time there were fewer than fifteen such organizations seeking to install them- selves in Hong Kong on various pretexts, ranging from the duty to comfort overseas Chinese, to the necessity for smelling out collaborators and traitors. A brisk running fight, waged with relative goodwill on both sides, left honours easy; the Hong Kong authorities expelled the worst of the visitors and regulated the behaviour of some of the others: the Chinese, succeeded in intro- ducing more officials into the Colony than circumstances warranted. The skirmish will continue.
138. A sustained effort was made to secure the installa- tion in Hong Kong of a responsible Chinese official as the representative of the Central Government, who would be suf- ficiently senior to be capable of controlling the activities of his more wayward colleagues. Mr. T. W. Kwok, Commissioner for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was posted to the Colony in November for this purpose. By the end of the Military period he had still not got to grips with the problem, although
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the general situation showed signs of improvement. The need for patient and tactful handling of the many exasperating issues with which the Administration was faced was by no means diminished, but, provided that this price were paid, there were no problems which defied solution.
Relations,
139. The Administration, throughout the Military period, Public enjoyed the whole-hearted support of the two English language newspapers, which were ready to resume publication immedi- ately upon the Japanese surrender. Editorial comment in these two papers was restrained and constructive, and on the few occasions when it became necessary to ask for co-operation on specific issues, this was at once forthcoming. Both papers were advocates of constitutional and social reform and, once it became clear that the rehabilitation of the Colony had passed the initial "disease and unrest" phase, there were signs that this section of the press was becoming more critical.
140. The vernacular press was not so helpful. Taking their lead from the National Times, a paper sponsored by the Chinese M.O.I., most Chinese papers sought during the first three months of the Administration to magnify and distort many issues and incidents having a bearing on the political relationship between Hong Kong and China. As a result of this it became necessary to warn the editors of the ten leading Chinese papers that it was not proposed to allow good relations between China and Britain to be jeopardized by irresponsible journalism, and to emphasize that the Administration's emergency powers of suppression would in future be used without hesitation. This warning proved remarkably effective and the tone of the press was thereafter more moderate and restrained.
141. It is noteworthy that the two papers controlled by the Chinese Communist Party showed a high standard of journalism throughout the Military period. Their editorial policy was constructive and helpful.
142. The setting up of a Press Relations Office proved a successful innovation, and it was hoped to retain the institution after the resumption of Civil Government. A reading room was opened and showed an average daily attendance of over 500.
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