CO537-5116 — Page 100

Typex.

INWARD TELEGRAM

This document must be paraphrased if the communication of its contents to any person

outside Government Service is authorised.

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

COPY FOR REGISTRATION

FROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)

KUMANITARESUPUNEKO ASTEMAKAMAN

D. 25th Jaly, 1949.

A. 25th

#

11.35 hrs.

29

EMEROUNCE

JENNYWISELDÉN BE MEN WAVİNGƏRZOMĚTY DRES

(a)

Ko. 762 Secret.

(a)

Your telegram No. 959 paragraph 2.

(28)

I suggest reply might make following points:-

Consistout policy in Hong Kong bag been to treat all abadea of opinion impartially and to permit freedom of press and publicatione provided that sedition against Colony lo avoided.

{ 1 }

In general press and publications in Colony has not overstepped limite indicated.

(c) But position in Colony has been kept ontinuously under review while necessity has been borne in mind to avoid unilateral action irrespective of general policy of H. A. Government (in this connection see my telegram Io. 488 to you.

2.

question of closure of New Chins News Agency discussed in Foreign Office telegram No 802 provides 11lustration of nead for overall policy instead of

to Nanking. ipolated action by Hong Kong. In fact if decision reached to clog London branch lage difficulty or reaction from alosing Hong Kong branch is forssaen than if aotion were taken at prpseat stage to ban wmunist nowspapera or publicatione,

Of course such setlon oơald be understood as a natural retaliation for comunlet treatment of Britich information septicon in China. I would not (repeat not) consifer such olostre except in conjunctioa with closure of such agenoy in London.

30

The closure of agency in Hong Kong would have substantial value as gesture although practical value would be small sinoo local communietlo press would contrive to get ita material freely from radio and other sources.

4.

On general question of control of communist prese employment of Ebrgency Regulations would be entailed.

m of course reluctant to resort to such legislation (although prepared in readiness) until situation fally warrents

Coples sent to:-

Popeiga Office

镳

War Office

(MI.2)

Mr. P.W. Goarlett.

13

Mr. P.D. Contea

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