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resulting from the "cold war", The K.M.T., while it was the leading party in China, has always given trouble in Hong Kong, and been the rallying point for Chinese nationalist propaganda. It has taken the lead in fomenting disturbances over matters such as Kowloon City. There is every indication that once the Chinese Communist Party is the Government Party in China, we shall have the same or worse trouble from them. The exist- ence of offices of Chinese political parties in the Colony has not proved conducive to peace and good order. It has led to the establishment of Chinese newspapers which stir up violent political feeling, not only against the K.M.T. regime, but against Governments with which we are in friendly relations, such as the U.S. Government and others. These newspapers may easily be turned against us, and we can expect the Chinese Communist Party to utilise for their own ends the smaller political groups in Hong Kong such as the China Democratic League and the K.M.T. Revolutionary Committee. There is already evidence that these two groups are strongly penetrated. Their leaders are now in North China, and all their recent útterances are stamped with Communist phraseology. When and if the Chinese Communists obtain control over all China, the C.C.P. may well wish to have offices in the Colony in the same way that the K.M.T. now have their "Hong Kong and Macao Head- quarters". This would give them a base in the middle of the town, which would be a focus for disaffection and for creating trouble. The proposed legislation will prevent this. It will also enable action to be taken to control Communist subversive influences in education and labour. Under respectable dis- guises Communism has so far been able to infiltrate into schools and trade unions, and a further instrument of Communist penetration is to be found in the numerous singing groups and dramatic societies which 'sing Communist songs and act Communist plays. These have hitherto been able to evade control. It is admitted that the proposed legislation cannot be completely effective in preventing the spread of Communism, but it is an essential method of control. There will certainly be criticism, but this will have to be met, and it can justifiably be pointed out that there is no intention of suppressing political activity which is for the benefit of the Colony itself, but only politi- cal activity which has no relation to the Colony and merely projects external troubles and quarrels into the life of Hong- Kong. It will be emphasized that there is no discrimination, and that foreign political parties of all views are equally prohibited. The parties which will immediately be affected are the Kuomintang, the China Democratic League and the K.M.T. Revolutionary Committee. There are a number of smaller Chinese political parties which will be included. The Chinese Commun- ist Party have no open organisation, but they would be controlled indirectly through non-registration of many of their disguised group activities, such as singing and dramatic clubs.
8.
I shall be grateful to learn by telegram whether you have any comments on the draft Bill. I would also appreciate comments by His Majesty's Ambassador, Nanking, to whom this despatch is being copied.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
GOVERNOR.