COPY
Orig. regs, on 55389/47 co
SAVINGRAM
copy for 54179/4
for 36
To The Secretary of State for the Colonies
From the Governor, Hong Kong.
Date 22nd October, 1947.
No. 71 SECRET
Repeated to:
H. B. M. Ambassador, Nanking, No. 53 H. B. M. Ambassador, Bangkok, No. 233 Governor-General, Malaya, No. 234.
My telegram No. 1538 of 1st October and Nanking telegram No.947 of 4th October to Foreign Office. Chinese Elections.
It does not seem likely that Chinese in Hong Kong will pursue plans to hold elections, though local K. M. T. circles apparently believe that if Hong Kong Government refuse permission voting by mail or some other method might be adopted.
2. Despite a certain amount of talk plans for elections never got very far, though part played by K. 1. T. is interesting as illustrative of their methods. Nominally local Electoral Office is independent of K. M. T. who superficially have manifested disinterestedness. Sources close to K. M. T. have however revealed that K. M. T. Headquarters were at one time busy in electioneering activities and it was clear that no candidate without their backing would stand a chance. Local K.M. T. Director LI TAI CHIU and Head of local San Min Chu I Youth Corps HO MAN PO were regarded as certain choices for "election", while election of remaining two members for Hong Kong was likely to depend on amount they were ready to pay, sum of H. K. $100,000 being mentioned in this connection.