Q.2.
A.
Q.3.
A.
2.
as to the policy of the paper or any terms governing publica- tion except that it was unexpressedly obvious that the paper would be used only as a mechanical robat medium under orders for Japanese propaganda.
Under what circumstances did you publish the articles com- plained of in the charge and have you any explanation to offer why some of these articles showed a Japanese bias or an anti-Allied bias or contained attacks on the Chinese National Government?
Admittedly, on the face of things, a newspaper such as the Wah Kiu Yat Po published in Hong Kong (or in any Japanese occupied territory, for each and every one of these papers without exception contained similar articles as those com- plained of) cannot properly expect to escape the stigma of collaboration with the enemy; but what I have stated in answer to Question 1 and what follows are both in explana- tion and refutation of the charges:-
(a) In order to enable the paper to continue in its pre- conceived policy it had to appear outwardly pro-Japanese and anti-Allied whereas the editorial staff attempted and succeeded in having the paper made up in the form of in- sinuating headlines, write-ups, leading articles, cartoons, etc., so as to give a discerning reader a true picture of Allied successes and of certain ultimate Japanese defeat. (b) A word in explanation of the method of publication during the occupation. In the beginning, my paper and all other papers in Hong Kong, was merely used as the medium for hand-outs from the Japanese Propaganda Department. Later, the following were methods used:-
(i) Quite often (apart from the story and advertising section, which still had to be censored) the whole of the news and articles section of the paper would be furnished, already written out by the Japanese propaganda department with peremptory orders for insertion and publication without charge. All other papers in Hong Kong would receive similar articles and news items with similar orders, thus bearing a sameness in layout and wording that was dis- concertingly obvious to the reading public.
(ii) From time to time, all newspapers in the Colony would be given sketchy outlines of basic orders for articles and editorials with instructions to prepare drafts of these and to submit such drafts for censoring, whereupon articles and aditorials would appear in all papers differently worded, but based on similar ideas and propaganda items.
(iii) From time to time, in order to avoid the appearance of a distated-to-and controlled press, the Japanese Fropa- ganda Department would give to the Wah Kiu Yat Po as the leading paper, already written articles or editorials or instructions with sketch of basic ideas for such articles and editorials to be written and submitted for censoring for exclusive insertion in the wah Kiu Yat Po.
(c) All these articles now produced come under one of these 3 categories and were published under Japanese com- pulsion.
Were you subject to any duress or threats by the Japanese or put in fear by them in connection with the publication of these articles?
The answer is contained in the following facts:-