Secretary
from service sources of undue publicity of this nature. The Foreign Office would like to add in their letter that the approach has the support of our of State and they suggest that we might concurrently raise the matter with the Governor of Hong Kong.
There is no doubt that undue emphasis on the
defence preparations in Hong Kong is both inconsistent with the declared policy of H.M.G. towards China and prejudicial to relations between Hong Kong and the Chinese Communists. Announcements such as that made by General Festing no doubt boost public morale in the Colony but they can be overdone.
I see no reason therefore why the Secretary of State should not concur in the approach to the Minister of Defence which the Foreign Office propose.
(I have asked Brigadier Johnson to defer the action mentioned in his minute above until it is clear whether the Foreign Office themselves intend to try something of the same kind.)
Bladford
7.9.49.
It
may
approval was
be worth recalling that when Cabinet
given to the 'sciona' batch of reinforcemento for Hong Kong it was agreed by Ministers that publicity should be avoided.
however, that
not be kept secret.
9
agree
Эх хочит
recognised,
trooping had begun
had begun it could
with Mr. Radford's minute of 4/9.
I understand that the Foreign office
anxions to
have the views of the Colonial office by Friday
afternoon in andas that
Defines may signature use
1
•
letter to the Minister of
for the Minister of State's
be ready for
Monday next.
apee,
also had asked Radford to
get into bouct with the EO, about this &as spult
the matter was as much
fr
them as
in should
fr
us
not
mae at this stage
When a dens un has harta ben
of course late for Hiking know what is trung das sask for his cooperation. I datfel
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