Secretariat file No. 1170/47.
SAVINGRAM
To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
(R) $-
•
From the Governor, Hong Kong. British Embassy, Nanking.
Commissioner General, Singapore. Consulate-General, Canton.
Date
8th June, 1948.
No.
41
SECRET.
22
No. 24.
No. 166.
No. 444.
Following is a political report for Hong Kong for the two weeks ending May 31st.
1.
The disappearance of students who are believed to have crossed the border into China and joined Communist gangs continues to attract considerable interest. The K.M.T. press, alleging that many teachers in the Colony are camouflaged Communists who train students in Communistic ideas, calls for action to stop Communist propaganda. A more reasonable view has, however, been taken by the "Ta Kung Pao", saying that teachers are not to blame, and that the disappearances are the result of environ-- ment and the present unhappy conditions in China.
2.
The Education Department in the Colony has recently had to take measures to curb the activities of the K.M.T. controlled "Overseas Chinese Education Association" which sought to extend its influence in schools and thereby was undermining the authority of the Education Department.
3.
Early in May, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs gave a severe warning to the editors and publishers of several left-wing publications for scurrilous attacks on Chiang Kai Shek and the Nanking Government. More drastic action will follow if these publications continue to abuse the hospitality of the Colony and thereby prejudice friendly Sino-British relations.
L
Wong Wen-hao's selection in Nanking as President of the Executive Yuan has been received with quiet approval. It is felt, though without enthusiasm, that a much worse choice could have been made. There is doubt whether he has sufficient weight to achieve much. The almost simultaneous announcement by the Chinese Communists of the formation of a new "Administrative area" comprising most of the seven northern provinces in China received front-page prominence. The general apathy regarding the Civil War continues, and the Chinese press has readily fallen in with the present Nanking Campaign of criticising the United States for allegedly building up Japan. Local Chinese industrialists have even formed an association to petition S.C.A.P. to stop aid to Japan. They blame the present slump in the weaving and textile industries to dumping of Japanese goods.
A
5.
A Mr. J. G. L. Chan, Acting Manager of a large Match Factory in the Colony, has somewhat curiously been chosen by the Chinese Government to represent China at an International Labour Organisation meeting in San Francisco as employers' representative. This is another example of the Chinese tendency to regard Hong Kong as part of China. Mr. Chan has been told that he is not empowered to speak for Hong Kong.
6.
Mr. Bevin's speech of May 20th at the Labour Party Conference at Scarborough received favourable Chinese Press comment, in particular his statement that H.M.G.'s policy was to help Colonies towards self-govern- ment and not to exploit them. There was in some papers a suggestion of a hint to the Hong Kong Government with regard to self-government.
7.
General Nguyen Van Xuan, President of the new temporary Central Government in Indo-China, arrived in Hong Kong on 27th May, from Saigon to consult ex-Emperor Bao Dai and obtain his support. He appears to be meeting with less success than he had expected.
8.
Mr. L. K. Little, Inspector-General of the Chinese Maritime Customs, came to Hong Kong on May 22nd to 24th after visiting Macao, where he had initialled a Customs Agreement with the Macao Government.
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