CO537-1658 — Page 18

24. for. Hong Kong Conf. Despatch with encl.

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28-11-46

·

The Governor has forwarded a very interesting and

useful account by the Acting Secretary for Chinese

Affairs of the present position of the Kuomintang

in Hong Kong. Mr. Megarry explains how underground

activities against the Japanese during the war enabled

the Kuomintang to achieve a position in Hong Kong much

in advance of anything that had been possible before

Houp Koup 1939. The late head of the Kuomintang, was accorded

recognition which, of course, implied recognition

of the Kuominta

Kuomintang as a Society having lawful existence

in the Colony. The present head of the Kuomintang

in Hong Kong is Mr. Lee Tai Chiu and in his case it

appears that his appointment has been "noted" but not

"recognized". Mr. Lee Tai Chiu's appointment is

unfortunate as Mr. Megarry ascribes much of the

difficulty with the Kuomintang authorities to the

aggressive nature and ambitious self-importance of this

person. His relations with the Commissioner for

Chinese Affairs explained perhaps Mr. Kwok's sometimes

provocative utterances.

"

It is clear that the Kuomintang aim at permeating

the whole life of the Chinese community in Hong Kong.

Their activities embrace schools and education, control

of the venacular press, the control of trade unions,

the infiltration of cultural activities and the bringing

of as many societies and individuals as possible

within their fold. It is easy to see how this Party

control could undermine the authority of the British

administration but difficult to know what is the right

policy to maintain with a Society which (as Mr. Megarry

says) is a branch of the political party which at

present forms the central Government of China. The

only suggestion which Mr. Megarry makes is that the

present head of the Kuomintang in Hong Kong should be

replaced by a man who would be more accommodating

/and