Mr. Whitley
1.
On Friday, 29th April, I was present at an interview which Mr. Rees-Williams had with Mr. Walter Fletcher, M.P. during which there was some discussion of matters arising out of Mr. Fletcher's recent visit to Hong Kong.
2.
Mr. Fletcher had been considerably impressed with the importance of making full use of Hong Kong as a base for directing broadcast propaganda to China now that it seemed the Communists would be gaining complete control there. He had had talks with persons concerned with the broadcasting service in Hong Kong and, while not decrying the quality of that service, Mr. Fletcher said that the limited range of Radio Hong Kong made it quite inadequate for propaganda purposes.
3. Mr. Rees-Williams in reply said that it was settled policy that the chief station for broadcasting for propaganda to China should be the "Voice of Britain" station in Malaya which, although not at present entirely satisfactory, would be stepped up in power and range as soon as possible. He added that this question of provision of facilities for broadcasting propaganda to foreign countries was primarily a matter for the Foreign Office, who were not overlooking the usefulness of Hong Kong for this purpose.
Mr. Rees-
and Williams made it clear that the Hong Kong Government, of course the Colonial Office, were ready to co-operate fully with the Foreign Office in this matter, but that if Mr. Walter Fletcher felt that it should be given a 'boost' he should perhaps have a word with Mr. Bevin about it.
M Rees willains asked
1ă let
you
know
of N' Walter Fletchers interest in this question.
Mr Morgan
to see.
旭
A Withey.
3.5.1949.
مجاہیے
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a copy
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F.O. for
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