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Orig. on 96009/15/+7
Date:- 18th. September 1947.
WEEKLY SUMMARY OF HONG KONG PRESS REPORTS AND COMMENTS. August 31st 6th September 1947
1.
CHINA.
There were further reactions to General Wedemeyor's farewell speech, notably in the Kuo Mintang "National Times". This paper dealt editorially with three points in Wedemeyer's specch. First, the tendency of China to attribute her present plight to outside causos; the "National Times' asserted that America: had sacrificed China's interests to Russia in the secret Yal ta agreement in order to induce Russia to open hostilities against Japan. Secondly, Wodonoyor's charges of inofficiency and corruption against the Chinese Administration - those wore admitted by the "National Times". As regards the third point, the commmunist issue, the paper insisted that the Communists must bo suppressed by force.
The Sing Pao admitted Wedemeyer's criticisms, but said that Wedemeyer had judgod China by American standards and did not realise that China's progress must necessarily be slow.
The Hwa Shiang Pao of September 6th commented on the recent statement to the press in Nanking by the British Ambassador, Sir Ralph Stevenson, which was to the effect that with an officicnt Goverment and a stable economy, which would assure to the Chinese people peace, security, food and clothing, China would be proof against the ponotration of Communism. The Hwa Shiang Pao assertod that China's troubles word not due to communism but to the roactionary Kuo Mintang Government, which was sorving the intorosts of America to the dotriment of those of Great Britain. The Hwa Shiang Pao said that it could not believe that the British Labour Government's policy was anti-communist.
2.
HONG KONG
Coronting on the announcement that tho Salaries Corumissior report had boon submittod to Government, the Sing Pao of September 2nd. quoted a report from "a woll informed source" that the Chinese members of the Commission had proposed that Chinoso Civil Sorvants should have equal treatment with Europeans and that they had boon out-votod, but novertheless thoro would be an improvement in the relative position of Chinese Civil Servants.
The announcement that a Social Welfare Department was about to be established in Hong Kong was welcomed by the Wah Kiu Yat Po.
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