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INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

AUG 1949

FROM HONG KONG ( Sir A. Grantham

A

D. 8th August, 1949 R. 8th

11

14.15 hrs.

No. 813.

Addressed to Secretary of State

Repeated by savingram to Commissioner General

"

11

11

Singapore "Consul General Canton

34

My inmediately preceding telegram.

Following is text of letter dated 4th August, 1949,

sent to Director of New China News Agency. Begins.

Sir,

Your attention is requested to the terms of a Question asked in the House of Commons in London on the 27th July, 1949, and the Answer thereto. Such Question and Answer were as follows:-

2.

Question -

Answer

Why is permission given to Communists in Hong Kong to continue the publication of newspapers and pamphlets in view of the closing by the Communist authorities in Shanghai of the British Information Service?

It has been the consistent policy of the Hong Kong Government to permit freedom of the Press and of publication to all shades of opinion provided activities contrary to the law or prejudicial to public security in Hong Kong are not indulged in.

N

I now refer to the document entitled "D. ily News Release No. 223" 3rd August, 1949, issued by the New China News Agency, and I refer in particular to items 1 and 2 of such issue. These items overstep the limits specified in the Answer above quoted in that they disseminate libellous and seditious matter.

3.

You are hereby warned that in the event of any further infringement of the law appropriate action will be taken against

you.

4. Fress.

A copy of this communication has been handed to the

(Signed) J. F. Nicoll, lenial Secretary.

Ends.