CO537-4835 — Page 36

54463/49

OUTWARD TELEGRAM

PROS 2. 97 8. COLONTES

Cypher (0.T.P.)

TO HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)

Sent 20-5-49

IMMEDIATE

No. 559 Secret.

Addressed to Governor, Hong Kong.

Repeated to Commissioner-General, S.E.Asia, No.282

鳕

(Please pass copy to Governor)

High Commissioner, Federation of Malaya, No. 598

"Governor, Singapore, No.478

"H. B. M. Ambassador, Nanking (via P.0.)

38/42

1.

My telegram No. 471.

Foreign Political Parties.

I agree with action as proposed in your despatch No.14 of 8th April, 1949, to prohibit without discrimination all foreign political societies in the Colony.

2.

As indicated in paragraph 3 of my telegram under reference, I consider that draft Bill forwarded with your despatch under reference should be amended so as to permit individual membership of foreign societies having no activity or organisation in the Colony. You will no doubt consider how this should be done, whether in the way suggested by my Legal Adviser in the note enclosed with my savingram No.96 or otherwise, and also whether any further amendment of the draft Bill is necessary in the light of the other comments in my Legal Adviser's note and in paragraph 3 of Ambassador Nanking's telegram No. 588 to Foreign Office.

3.

Please telegraph in advance date of introduction of Bill and send: by early air mail copies as published.

(Copies to F.0. for transmission to Nanking)

Copies sent to:-

Foreign Office

Mr. P.D.Coates.