TELEPHONES :
P.R.O....
21738
ASSISTANT P.R.O.
31636
GENERA!
FICE.
23406
To:
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE
OFFICES:
28
31
6E, CLOUCESTER ARCADE
Ref: PRO/1011/3.
Ory on 96009/15/+7
Date: 10th July, 1947.
1.
CHINA.
WEEKLY SUMMARY OF HONG KONG PRESS REPORTS AND COMMENTS
June 29 July 5, 1947.
The bitterly contested battle of Szepingkai was the most featured item of news during the week. The Communists claimed a tactical success in inflicting very heavy casualties (16,000 killed or captured) on the National- ists and withdrawing from the city in good order, whilst the Nationalists claimed a strategic success in retaining a key point. This costly but indecisive battle was seen by the Wah Kiu Yat Po of July 4 as reflecting the whole character of the civil war.
The week of Szepingkai saw an intensification of the civil war in other aspects. The Supreme Court of China issued a warrant for the arrest of Mao Tse-tung, Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, on a charge of violating the peace with armed forces. Earlier in the week the Kuomintang was considering recommending to Government the issue of a "Red Suppression Order" (under which the Communists would presumably be treated as criminals), but later a mobilization order was recommended in lieu, and was adopted by the State Council on July 4. The mobilization order was passed unanimously by the State Council, but apparently some left wing members of that body took the opportunity of pointing out that "efforts to improve political administration and the livelihood of the people" were necessary as well as military action (Wah Kiu Yat Po, July 5).
There was speculation as to whether the mobilization order (which puts China on a war footing) would mean the re-imposition of press censorship, and it was thought that press censorship would produce an unfavourable reaction amongst foreign correspondents (Wah Kiu Yat Po, July 5).
The Sing Tao Jih Pao of July 3 quoted a report that war supplies for the Communists were carried in a Russian warship from Dairen to the Communist-controlled port of Yintai, and thence transported by UNRRA convoy to central Shantung.
The Sing Tao Jih Pao continued to appeal for an end of the civil war, but the National Times advocated foreign aid for the Central Govern- ment in suppressing the Communists.