[This telegram is of particular secrecy and should be retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on]
Cypher/OTP
POLITICAL DISTRIBUTIO!
FROM NANKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Sir R. Stevenson
No. 588
7th May, 1949
D. 9.35 a.m. 7th May, 1949
R. 11.25 a.m. 7th May, 1949
36
1)
Repeated to Commissioner-General Singapore
IMMEDIATE SECRET
Governor Singapore
U.K. High Commissioner Federation of Malaya Governor Hong Kong
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 588 of May 7th, repeated for information to Commissioner-General Singapore, Governor Singapore, United Kingdom High Commissioner Federa- tion of Malaya and Governor Hong Kong.
Your telegram No. 460. Foreign political parties in Malaya and Hong Kong.
I agree with the Governor Hong Kong that if action is to be taken in Hong Kong it should (as in Malaya) be taken immediately, before a Communist Government is firmly estab- lished over the whole of China. The case for action, as stated in Hong Kong despatch No. 14, is a strong one and I should not wish to raise any objection particularly in view of the statement which was presumably made in debate on May 5th (paragraph 3 of your telegram No. 238 to Singapore)
2. We must expect repercussions in Communist propa- ganda to promulgation of Ordinance in Hong Kong and subse- quest action in both Malaya and Hong Kong. It is diffi- cult to foretell how far action in Hong Kong, in particular, may embarrass our position in China vis-à-vis the Communist régime, but it will certainly be less likely to exacerbate relations if all political parties are treated alike. I consider it most desirable that, if China Democratic League (and in Hong Kong the Kuomintang Revolutionary parties) are refused registration, the Kuomintang should equally be refused registration in Malaya as well as in Hong Kong. I also agree with views expressed in paragraph 5 of your tele- gram under reference that it is essential that Hong Kong Ordinance should allow individual membership of political parties established outside the colony..
3. I do not feel competent to comment in detail on legal aspects of text of draft bill. Powers given to police under section 19(i) seem somewhat sweeping however, and in
/view of insistence