ar
Copy of letter and statement received from
178/1/49.
THE CHINESE ASSOCIATION OF SCIENTIFIC WORKERS (HONG KONG BRANCH)
culated to WFSW affiliated organisations for information.
Mr. J.G. Crowther,
Dr. J.C. Tsao,
The University, Hong Kong, 25th. November, 1949.
Secretary-General, World Federation of Scientific Workers, 15, Half Moon Street, Wondon, W.1,
Dear Mr. Crowther,
I regret to inform you that the Chinese Association of Scientific Workers, (Hong Kong Branch, hereafter referred to as the Branch Association), has been suspended by the Hong Kong Government.
The Branch Association was formed early in 1949, and was registered by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs of the Hong Kong Govorimont, It has about one hundred members, all of whom are engineers, technicians, professor or teachers in natural sciences. Since its formation, the activities of the Branch Association consist of lectures in Technology and natural sciences, seminars and discussions, translation and edition of scientific periodicals and books, Recently an open meeting was held in celebration of the inauguration of the People's Republic of China and the Central People's Government, and the Branch Association also initiatod collections of donations for the People's Liberation Army.
On
Last May, The Hong Kong Goverment promulgatod the Societies Ordinance,1949. The Branch Association, in accordance with the legal procedure, made an application for registration at the Societics Registration Office of Hong Kong Government. 9th. November, 1949, the Registrar of Societies informed us that in accordance with the provision of Section 5. of the Societies Ordinance 1949 he refused registration to the Branch Society which would be deemed thereafter to be an unlawful society. The Article concerned in Section 5 of the urdinance reads: "Where the Registrar is satisfied that a local society is a branch of, or is affiliated to, or connected with, any organisation cr group of a political nature established outside the Colony, he shall refuse to register it, and where it appears to him that any local society is likely to be used for an unlawful purposo or for any purpose pro judicial to, or incompatible with, peace, welfare or good order in the Colony, ho shall refuse to register it."
The Branch Association is neither "Of a political nature", nor has it been "used for an unlawful purpose or for any purpose prejudicial to or incompatible with peace, welfare or good order in the Colony". The reason why the Registrar refused registration to the Branch Association is completely incomprehensible to us, and we do not think, therefore, that he is quite justified in doing so. The Branch Association has issued a statement (which you will please find enclosed) explaining its case more in dotail, and is making a joint appeal to the Governor of Hong Kong with forty-two other societies which were refused registration by the Registrar, all the members of the Branch Association, including myself, will be vory grateful if you and the World Federation of Scientific Workers would kindly give us help and support.
With greetings,
Yours fraternally,
J.C.Tsao,
Honorary Secretary.
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