CO537-3705 — Page 139

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74

(F918/154/10)

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVEL 24 JAN 1948

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W. 1.

23rd January, 1948.

C. O. REGI

5414:

31

Ол Jean Jayle,

-་་ལ་

We have been considering the proposals raised by the Governor of Hong Kong in his telegram No. 67 of the 17th January, and commented upon by our Ambassador at Nanking in his telegram No. 67 of the 18th January, 4 for (a) the immediate withdrawal from Hong Kong of the "National Times" (b) the withdrawal from Hong Kong of the Kuomintang and the San Min Chu Yi Youth Corps and (c) the appointment to Hong Kong of a Chinese Consul- General.

2. Of these only the first appears strictly germane to the question of a settlement of the trouble over the evictions from Kowloon walled city. The "National Times", which is said to be entirely supported by an official subsidy, is described as "consistently mischievous and provocative". This being so we have every reason for insisting that it should not be used to the detriment of Anglo-Chinese relations, and indeed the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs has since told Sir Ralph Stevenson that, in response to the latter's representations, he had caused instructions to be sent to the paper to maintain "an unprovocative attitude". Assuming, however, that the "National Times" is the only Government subsidised paper published in the Colony, we should have thought there were advantages in allowing it to continue publication on receipt of

satisfactory/

N.L. Mayle, Esq.,

Colonial Office.