CO537-4847 — Page 41

SECRET

VII.

POSTAL AND TELE-COMMUNICATIONS.

Likely Communist Actions

and Policies.

(a) The Communists are

likely to restore

postal and tele-communi- cations just as much as they please and as much as suits their own interests.

(b) The Communists are

certain to institute postal and telephone censorship.

(c) Mails may be held up

for unnecessarily long periods and in other ways international Postal Regulations may be violated.

(d) As a matter of policy the various Communist postal authorities in Canton, Shanghai, Tientsin and elsewhere may seek to deal piece- meal with postal questions. In the way they will be able to wriggle out of recog- nition of the status of H.M. Ambassador and H.M. Consuls in China.

Action by Hong Kong.

It is desirable to restore postal and tele-communications on a normal basis with Canton as soon as possible, but Hong Kong should not be over hasty, since, in the absence of proper facili- ties being given to British merchants and other British subjects in China, the advantage will mainly be with the Communists.

Much will depend upon the manner of the Communist take-over in Canton. If this is effected smoothly then the Post- master General should get in touch on a working basis with his opposite number in Canton and informal working arrange- ments should be made as soon as possible. At the time when this is done, however, it should be made clear that such arrange- ments are only temporary and will have to be formalised. It might be well to give a definite time limit for any arrange- ments thus made, and to make them sub- ject to review say every month until formal arrangements can be signed when and if diplomatic relations are estab- lished after recognition of the Commun- ist regime.

Reciprocal censorship, at most selective, should be considered by Hong- Kong in such a case. Full and effective censorship would be impossible in view of the large machinery and staff involved.

If mails are held up for unnecess- arily long period for censorship and other reasons Hong Kong should do the same with mail from Communist China. Any breaches of International conditions should be met with the same treatment.

As a matter of policy Hong Kong should seek to establish arrangements on an official basis as soon as possible and if necessary to bring in H.M. Consuls or the British Embassy as inter- mediaries. If the Communist authorities can be made to deal officially with the Hong Kong Government a breach will have been made in their attitude of ignoring completely all official British repro- sentatives.