CO537-5116 — Page 174

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

CUPTION

TRATION

1

Cypher (0.T.P.)

FROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)

De

Ro

21st May 1949 21st

13.10 hrs.

RECEIVED £ 3 JU. 1949 COLONIAL OFFICE!

No. 488

Secret

1.

Addressed to S. of S.

Repeated to Nanking No. 78

**

" Commissioner General Singapore No. 158

Your telegram No. 426,

(A)

Communist Controlled Press.

It is now too late to use AMETHYST as pretext for closing down Communist news agencies and I agres with Ambassador that for reasons he states in his telegram No. 504 to Foreign Office it would in any case have been unden frable to have done so.

2. a

As regards his second paragraph I agree that precipitated action might aggravate relations. What is needed is a clear policy lead by H.M. Goverment but I appreciate that this is difficult until situation becomes clearer. But in the event of Communiat controlled press in Hong Kong printing openly subversive articles I should have to act against them and act quickly.

3.

I also propose when the new Societies Ordinance is`- passed, seriously to consider closing down of New China News Agency since it is publicity organ of foreign political party. An additional reason would be retaliation for lack of facilities given to British news agencies in Communist China but in this connection it would be helpful if similar action could be taken against New China News Agency branch in London which I understand is still functioning,

Copies sent to:

Foreign Office

War Office (M.I.2)

Mr. P.D. Coates.

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