CO537-4847 — Page 11

news-sheet to ensure the necessary circulation

of Government decisions and views.

It is thought unlikely that the Chinese

would consider it worthwhile jamming Hong

Kong Radio in view of its limited coverage

outside the Colony and the decision not to use

it for other than domestic broadcasting.

The jamming in Hong Kong of broadcasts

from China would require a good deal of

technical preparation and, (depending mainly

upon the number of transmitters employed

by the Chinese), might be expensive.

II.

Shipping.

I have already advised you in my

of 22nd Like.

saving No.1216

of the position as regards

suspect applications for transferring ships

to the British flag.

If the Chinese close Canton to British

shipping or otherwise discriminate against

British shipping, the adoption of retaliatory

measures,(e.g. by over strict enforcement

of safety rules or by prohibiting Chinese

shipping from using Hong Kong waters),would

as you recognise need careful consideration in

the light of the circumstances then prevailing.

Unless the policy of seeking good relations

between Hong Kong and Communist China and

not taking local counter action against

the pinpricking of British interests had.

clearly become untenable, any alternative

to simple retaliation ought first to be

considered.

* 22661/8/49)