COPY
31/3571/49.
CONFIDENTIAL
Original
at
(33)
8th October, 1949.
39
Regional Information Office Representative
in Hong Kong
X X X X X
I attach a copy of a letter runt to me by Ieslic · C. Smith, Kemsley Press correspondent in China, who recently camo out of Shanghai by the "General Gordon".
2.
The letter contains some useful ideas, though others, such as a sponsored radio station in Macao, would seem ruled out on financial grounds.
3.
Leslie Smith has been offered a job in our Public Relations Officer's Office, but I think is unlikely to accept as he believes he can make more money as a freelance than as a Government servant. He might however be suitable for your purposes, as he has a lot of experience and a fair amount of initiative. During the late War he was in Kweilin in charge of the Press Attache's Office there, but he did not get on too well with Stanley Smith, the M.O.I. Representative in China. He is not first-class on the administrative side, but he is full of energy and has a very wide and useful range of contacts with Chinese.
4.
We should be glad to know here how the matter of an. R.I.O. Representativo in Hong Kong is progrossing, and whether early establishment of an office can be expected.
(Signed) C.B.5. Heathcote-Smith.
J. Rayner, Esq.,
Office of the Commissioner-General,
for S.E.fl.,
Phoenix Park,
SINGAPORE.
c.c. Secretary of State.