CO537-5132 — Page 102

COPY (FR 2140/9/G.)

960389,815

This telegram is of particular secrecy and should be retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on.

Cypher/OTP FR.2140/9/G

Top Secret

27

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO SINGAPORE

(To Commissioner General in South East Asia).

22 AUG 1949

No. 967

C

16th August 1949

D. 5.46 p.m. 16th August 1949.

Repeated to Nanking No. 944

Canton No. 6 Saving

Hong Kong Saving.

(22)

(23)

TOP SECRET

Addressed to Singapore telegram No. 967 of 16th August repeated for information to Nanking and Saving to Canton and Hong Kong.

Your_telegram No. 546 [26 July; Anti-Communist Liaison Office in Hong Kong/.

Before proceeding further with this matter may we have your comments on Nanking telegram No.1140 of 1st August, same subject and No.1141 same date, same subject/?

2.

In particular we think it would be important to obtain a narrower definition of the terms of reference of the officer in question which are outlined in your paragraph 4.

3. For your information we agree about the necessity for an officer engaged on this work in Hong Kong bearing two points in mind:

4.

(a) that any work performed in Hong Kong must produce an effect in

some degree in South East Asia generally.

(b) that any work performed in Hong Kong must have some effect in

China.

The Governor of Hong Kong has agreed on the advisability of such an appointment in his letter reference 31/31571/49s to Sir Ralph Hone. The Colonial Office, as you know, agreed that if such work is regarded as necessary an additional officer would be advisable.

5. With reference to Nanking telegram No.1140 we doubt whether Chinese Communist policy is in fact likely to be swayed by considerations of whether or not we stand up to their propaganda in Hong Kong. We also think that much would depend upon the manner in which the officer concerned disseminates his propaganda on the material which he handles. We do not (repeat not) envisage blatant anti-Chinese-Communist material being used. On the other hand we can scarcely let Chinese Communist propaganda go entirely unrefuted in Hong Kong and we are sceptical of the value in either Hong Kong or China of propaganda conducted along "positive pro-British pro-Hong-Kong" lines as envisaged by Nanking. At the least we are inclined to think we cannot allow anti-Communist propaganda to go entirely by default in Hong Kong.

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