TELEPHONES :
P.R.O.
ASSISTANT P.R.O.
21738
31636
GENERAL G NCE.
23406
To:
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE
Orig. on 96009/15/+7
Date:
20th June, 1947.
OFFICES:
24
40
6E, CLOUCESTER ARCADE
Ref: PRO/888/3.
WEEKLY SUMMARY OF HONG KONG PRESS REPORTS & COMMENTS
June 8 11. 1947.
1. CHINA.
The June 9 issue of the daily circular sent out by the local branch of the pro-Communist Hsin Hua (New China) News Agency contained a strong denunciation of the People's Political Council, which was described as consisting mostly of reactionaries and of the P.P.C's peace proposals, which were termed empty and insincere. A Hsin Hua broadcast to the same effect, picked up in Shanghai, was quoted in the Wah Kiu Yat Po of the same day.
The Sinkiang incident, which was first reported on June 10, was the main topic for the rest of the week under review - except in the pro-Communist section of the Press, which made no mention of it. Those who commented on the incident appeared to take it for granted that Russia was the instigator,
the instigator, and there was an urgent demand for a stiffening in China's attitude towards Russia.
The Sing Tao Jih Pao compared the incident with the Mukden incident of 1931.
Two surmises as to Russia's interest in Sinkiang were put forward; one by the Wah Kiu Yat Po, that the attraction lay in the rich uranium deposits in the Chitai area of the province; the other, by the Sing Pao, that the invasion of Sinkiang was merely a first step in a Russian advance to the Bay of Bengal.
The Sing Tao Jih Pao expressed the hope that the suggested American loan of $500,000,000 to China would be used wholly for economic rehabilitation, and not for military or political purposes.
Disastrous floods in the basins of the North, East and West Rivers in Kwangtung Province, said to be the worst for 32 years, were reported in the newspapers on June 14. The Wah Kiu Yat Po launched an appeal for a flood relief fund.