CO537-4835 — Page 59

Copy of letter and statement received from

18/4/49.

THE CHINESE ASSOCIATION CF SCIENTIFIC WORKERS (HONG KONG BRANCH)

culated to WFSW affiliated organisations for information,

Mr. J. G. Crowther,

Dr. J.C.Tsao,

The University, Hong Kong, 25th. November, 1949. .

Secretary-General, World Federation of Scientific Workers, 15, Half Moon Street, Wondon, W.1,

Dear Mr. Crowther,

I regret to inform you that the Chinese Association of Scientific Workers, (Hong Kong Branch, hereafter referred to as the Branch Association), has been suspended by the Hong Kong Government.

The Branch Association was formed carly in 1949, and was registored by the

It has about one Secretary for Chinesc Affairs of the Hong Kong Government. hundred members, all of whom are engineers, technicians, professor or teachers in natural sciences. Since its formation, the activities of the Branch Association consist of lectures in technology and natural sciences, seminars and discussions,

Recently an open translation and edition of scientific periodicals and books, meeting was held in celebration of the inauguration of the People's Republic of China and the Central People's Government, and the Branch Association also initiatod collections of donations for the People's Liberation Army.

Last May, The Hong Kong Goverment promulgated the Societies Ordinance,1949. The Branch Association, in accordance with the legal procedure, made an application

On for registration at the Societies Registration Office of Hong Kong Government. 9th. November, 1949, the Registrar of Societics informed us that in accordance with the provision of Section 5. of the Societies Ordinance 1949 he refused registration to the Branch Society which would be deemed thereafter to be an unlawful society. "Where the Registrar The Article concerned in Section 5 of the urdinance reads: is satisfied that a local society is a branch of, or is affiliated to, or connected with, any organisation or group of a political nature established outside the Colony, he shall refuse to register it, and whore it appears to him that any local society is likely to be used for an unlawful purpose or for any purpose pro judicial to, or incompatible with, peace, welfare or good order in the Colony, he shall refuse to register it,"

The Branch Association is neither "Of a political nature", nor has it been "used for an unlawful purpose or for any purpose prejudicial to or incompatible with The reason why the Registrar refused peaco, welfare or good order in the Colony". registration to the Branch Association is completely incomprehensible to us, and The Branch we do not think, therefore, that he is quite justified in doing so. Association has issued a statement (which you will please find enclosed) explaining its case more in detail, and is making a joint appeal to the Governor of Hong Kong with forty-two other societies which were refused registration by the Registrar. All the members of the Branch Association, including myself, will be very grateful if you and the World Federation of Scientific Workers would kinlly give us help and support.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

J.C.Tsao,

Honorary Secretary.