but it is worth while examining the need and possibilities of jamming broadcasts to Hong Kong. I understand that jamming is a relatively simple and inexpensive matter, but the principle would need to be fully considered and endorsed by H.M.G. because of the attitude it has taken towards jamming of the B.B.C. by Russian stations.
Mr. Millar, Mr. Evans and Brigadier Johnson should see for further comments.
W. S. Morgan 21/11
1.
I agree that, as the Hong Kong Service will be broadcasting for the domestic audience and will not have an extensive coverage outside the Colony, it is unlikely that a Chinese Government would think it worth while jamming it.
2.
With regard to the possibility of undertaking jamming ourselves; a large scale jamming operation does require a good deal of technical preparation and is not necessarily inexpensive. It is true that the expense will depend on the resources which the jammed one can throw into the fray - mainly on the number of transmitters he can spare and I imagine that the Chinese Communists do not dispose of large technical resources of this kind.
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J.B. Millar
21/11
Presumably at A Mr. Morgan refers only to a Chinese vernacular newspaper printed in Mandarin. I do not imagine that the three British papers "S. China Morning Post", "H. K. Telegraph" and "China Mail" will fail in their duty of cooperating with the Government.
Otherwise no comment
R.F.J.
23/11/49
I have no comments to add to those made by Mr. Morgan, Mr. Millar and Brig. Johnson. As regards the last, I have spoken to Mr. Morgan who agrees that he was thinking of a Chinese vernacular newspaper (though if, by some remote chance, the English newspapers also became hostile, it would equally be open to consideration whether an official bulletin in English should be brought into being). A X in his minute of 21.11, Mr. Morgan puts an important counter-view, which higher authority will no doubt wish to take into consideration: at the level of information available to Information Department it is not, of course, possible to do more than put this counter- view forward since very wide policy questions are involved in which the Foreign Office is particularly concerned.
S.W. Evans
24/11
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.