CONFIDENTIAL
15.
PFE 521/258/961
Sean Whitby,
(10)
Bilb
cl.
D
FOREIGN OFFICE,
17 Carlton House Terrace,
S.W.1.
19th April 1948.
Whitley on 26/4/68
Thank you for your letter, reference 96834/15/48 of
31st March, about broadcasting from Hong Kong. In our opinion, to start broadcasting to China from Hong Kong would be to add one more to the causes of offence in Chinese eyes against our retention of Hong Kong.
The distinction between short and medium wave, therefore, is not so academic as might be supposed, because the Chinese would certainly regard the use of short wave from Hong Kong as a deliberate radio invasion of their country.
In suggesting that Hong Kong should concentrate on their medium wave broadcasts, we had in mind their broadcasts in English and in Chinese which would be intended primarily for the inhabitants of Hong Kong and could be so interpreted in answer to any Chinese Government complaint.
We did not envisage broadcasts in French, and Portuguese, and we feel that it would be better if broadcasts in these languages were, for the most part, originated in London for transmission via Singapore.
There could not only be no objection on the part of the Chinese to Candonese and possibly Kuoyu broadcasts addressed to the Chinese in Hong Kong, but there would be a definite gain from our point of view if such broadcasts could be spilled over into China.
A
O.J. Whitley, Esq., The Colonial Office,
Palace Chambers, Bridge St.,
S.W.1.
RECEIVED 21 APR 1948
COL. OFFICE
/Although