CO537-2187 — Page 78

6677

Ory on 96009/15/47 54228/1/07

Ref. 77/47

To:

com for 54145747.

Date: 11th. September 1947.

WEEKLY SUMMARY OF HONGKONG PRESS REPORTS AND COM ENTS,

August 24 30, 1947

1.

CHINA.

}

The chief topic was General Wedemeyer's farewell speech. The Sing Pao of August 25th spoke approving of the speech and said that it represented exactly what the common people of China were thinking. The Wah Kiu Yat Pao of August 26th reported that there was no strong reaction in Nanking, but that there was a feeling that China would now be left to fend for herself. The Kung Sheung Daily News of August 26th remarked that General Wedemeyer had apparently found the situation in China worse than had General Marshall when the lattor visited China last year. It was generally agreed that China must put her house in order before she could expect American help.

The Hwa Shiang Pao of August 26th alleged that Wedemeyer had obtained substantial concessions to American intorosts from the Nanking Government, including mining works, railway concessions and permission to construct military bases at a number of the leading Chinese Ports. Wedomeyer's contacts with Chinese Liberals and his criticisms of the Nanking Government were dismissed as a near smokescreen.

As a result of Wodomoyer's speech defeatism and corruption were favourite subjects for editorial comment during the week.

2.

HONG KONG.

Dr.

The Now Life Evening Post of August 29th reported that at a press conference in Canton Dr. Sun Fo had been questioned about the future of Hong Kong, apropos of General Wedemeyor's alleged statement that the United States Government favoured the return of Hong Kong to China, Sun Fo's reply was non-commital, the gist of it bing that the Hong Kong question was one for negotiation between China and Britain, and that negotiations had not yet begun.

The Sing Pao of August 28th in the course of an editorial on His Excellency the Governor's visit to Canton describes Hong Kong as a link in Sino-British friendships. The article then went on to observe that long Kong was a base for smuggling into China and a refuge for "oscaped" capital, which would not have been the case wero Hong Kong under the Chinese Flag. At the same time it remarked that the retrocession of Hong Kong would not benefit China so long as corruption prevailed, adding that "fortunately tho Chinese Government is determined to do away with corruption."

/2.........

127