94095/7/49
Cypher (0.7.P.)
OUTWARD TE MORAM
FROM S. OF S., COLONIES
TO HONG KONG (sir A. Granthan)
Sent 18th August 13:2, 12.45 hrs.
41/42
PRIORITY
No. 1114 Secret
Addressed to Governor Hon: Jong-
Repeated to Ambassador Heading
"Commissionga agjent singapore No. 4467 " Consul Comer
Your telegram No. 812.
New China Newa Agency.
I agree that if the N.O.N.A. again overstop the linito to which their attention has now been officially drawn you should at your discretion take immediate action against them short of closure or suspension. For reasons below I should not wigh actual. closure or suspension to be ordered without further prior consultation with me and with Ambassador unless you considered such action essential to counter activities immediately threatening law and order in the Colony, (No doubt you will in any engo koep Ambassador and myself informed of any action you may takto.)
2.
As noted in your telegram No. 762, closure of the N.C.N.A. in Hong Kong would not prevent loft wing press on obtaining communist propaganda material and there is the advantage, to which Ambassador Nanking referred in his telegram Ho. 207 to you, that while the Agency continues to function in the Colony objectionable releases can be dealt with at source of their distribution in the Colony by prosecution under the relevant ordinances. Apart from these local considerations it would appear anomalous if vithout there being a definite threat to security in the Colony, the Hong Kong branch were closed down for publication of a particular item (even one so galling as the AMTHYST report) which had been released by the London branch and had appeared in sections of the press here.
3.
Furthermore, closure of N.C.N.A. in Hong Kong would be less open to retallation and could be more effectively "epresented publicly if it did not take place before Chinese Communist authorities had closed Reuter agency in Shanghai and North China Daily News, And if closure were based on any reason other than a specific threat to public security in the Colony San. if it were intended as a gesture against Chinese Communists prior consultation with Foreign Office and Ambasandor would clearly be particularly appropriate.
ANG