CO537-3702 — Page 114

Liverpool Fosc

28 DIC 1948

14

War threat to helpless Hong Kong

POIS

war

OASIS OF ORDER IN CHINA CHAOS WAITING FOR

DEMANDS OF OF

OISED between fear and illogical hope, Hong Kong is watching the in China with the fascinated attention a mouse gives a cat. It is clear that nothing this crowded rock may do will change the course of the war, and the victory of neither side offers it sure security. Yet on its outcome depends the island's future.

Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalists have never relaxed their formal claim to the island, and if the Communists arrive this far south it is considered certain that they, too, will demand its return to China. The Administration here still hopes, however, that the equally certain fact, that its trade and value will disappear if the British quit, may deter even the Communists from taking action.

There is also the unspoken hope that events on the other side of the world may yet save them. Certainly it is believed that they have still twelve months' grace before any major crisis, before any victor is strong enough to present a final demand,

Delicate tip-toeing

British policy at present seems to be one of correctitude and compromise, a most delicate tip- toeing between two extremes. The Government

of China have received every concession short of sovereignty. Their Customs are allowed to search inside the colony and their nationals have virtually free access:

The Communist party has not so far been proscribed as in Singapore, and no attempt is being made to use the wide banishment powers possessed by the administration.

VICTORS

Many members of the administration have maintained good relations with individual Communist leaders, and agitation is practically too Probably Hong Kong is non-existent. valuable a contact base to be spoiled by violent action.

Certainly the administration's task is delicate. There are more than 1,500,000 Chinese in the

By

Patrick O'Donovan DAILY POST Special Correspondent in Hong Kong, who describes the colony's hopes and fears in the present threatening Chinese situation.

The extremo

colony, and a few thousand Britishers, Portuguese. Eurasians and Indians. Only a few hundred Chinese feel any profound loyalty to the Crown.

The Tast war demonstrated "vulnerability of the island. The present garrison

is scarcely sufficient to maintain law and order. : The island could be crippled instantly by a Communist-called general strike.

The junior ranks of the police force are Chinese, and speak no English. The armed Forces depend for many of their ancilliary services on locally enlisted personnel." In neither of these can there be any complete confidence, and this time, if it became a question of active defence against a Chinese demand, the administration could not rely on the hatred the Chinese popula- tion felt when the enemy was the Japanese.

The vast mass of local Chinese are

unorganised politically and apathetic, They would seek simply the most favourable economic conditions. In the cinemas God Save the King is a sign that the doors are open. Representatio of the Generalissimo that once were greeted w extravagant applause are now received w.. almost equal indifference.

There is little that can be done to win the loyalties of these people. There is a wildly fluctuating population, most of whom regard the island as little more than a reasonable hotel. Their loyalties and affections remain in China.: At least 60.000 children are receiving no educatior and the whole island is aware of the insecurity of the British position. Most carefully, and it spite of frequent demands, the Government has made no declaration that they intend either te remain at any cost or to quit at the first popula demand.

Meanwhile, the colony is still an oasis c solid order and prosperity on the edge of China chaos.

There is a steady stream of refuge coming in, and almost every day merchant shi from Shanghai or Tientsin steam into the chann their decks packed till they look like flower be with families and huge rolls of household goo

Undertone of disquiet

There is, too, a poorer stream across naked mainland frontier, unchecked uncounted, which goes to swell the vast popi tion.

The wealthy have not begun to panic That may come later. There is no large-sca flight of capital and few have left the island. among the Europeans and Chinese in busk there is an undertone of deep disquiet. It is st a great city, with a facade às proud and grey) splendid as that of the City of London. The fir pricklings of fear have only just begun.

[Copyright]

R243. P. on 54145748. R

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A good summary

One

M. Pasku. My Sids Bolham

MR to Z. J. Wallace.

If the Jaw press anticle

I have from which wally faces the hard fuck-

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