- 2
34/47.
24
On the following day there were comments by the "Sing Tao Jih Pao" which expressed dissatisfaction at the allocation of only half the seats in the proposed municipal council to the Chinese, and at the difference in residential qualifications required for non-British subjects and that for British subjects, and by the "Kung Sheung Daily News", which expressed similar views and also complained of the limited powers of the municipal council. However, the latter paper welcomed the proposals as a step forward.
The pro-Communist "Iwa Shiang Pao", in an article headed "Welcome Sir Alexander Grantham" said, "Sir Alexander Grantham is the first Governor appointed by the Labour Government. We trust he will translate the Labour Government's progressive colonial policy into reality in respect of the colony of Hong Kong. We want political power to be gradually and rapidly opened to the people of Hong Kong so as to make Hong Kong Government into a people's self-governing democracy at an early date." The "Sing Pao" suggested that the now Governor's mission was to make Hong Kong a shop window of democracy in the Far East. The "Kung Sheung Daily News" mentioned the question of the retrocession of Hong Kong but suggested that the matter had been dropped for the time being. The "National Times" would not agree that the educated classes of Hong Kong were opposed to retrocession, and the general tone of its commentary was not friendly.
JHBL/APC
J.H.B. Lee,
P.R.O.
RECEIVE
21 AUG 1947
C. O. REGY
人
Y