news-sheet to ensure the necessary circulation
of Government decisions and views.
It is thought unlikely that the Chinese
would consider it worthwhile jamming Hong
Kong Radio in view of its limited coverage
outside the Colony and the decision not to use
it for other than domestic broadcasting.
The jamming in Hong Kong of broadcasts
from China would require a good deal of
technical preparation and, (depending mainly
upon the number of transmitters employed
by the Chinese), might be expensive.
II.
Shipping.
I have already advised you in my
of 22nd Like.
saving No.1216
of the position as regards
suspect applications for transferring ships
to the British flag.
If the Chinese close Canton to British
shipping or otherwise discriminate against
British shipping, the adoption of retaliatory
measures,(e.g. by over strict enforcement
of safety rules or by prohibiting Chinese
shipping from using Hong Kong waters),would
as you recognise need careful consideration in
the light of the circumstances then prevailing.
Unless the policy of seeking good relations
between Hong Kong and Communist China and
not taking local counter action against
the pinpricking of British interests had.
clearly become untenable, any alternative
to simple retaliation ought first to be
considered.
* 22661/8/49)