CO537-5132 — Page 110

boyty rent to Mr Cocks:

? No pleas

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

Cypher (Q. T. P. )

96038/1/15244

COPY FOR RESISTRATION

FROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)

D. 11th August, 1949 R. 11th

No. 827 Secret

**

Addressed S. of S.

AUG

07.30 hrs.

12

XI XI

Repeated Commissioner General No. 244.

17 to Nanking No. 126.

Τ

1949

I I

ΠΛ

ΙΛ

A

#1 by saving to Consul General Canton

Commissioner General Singapore telegram No. 546 to

Foreign Office.

Y (2)

We are in agreement with proposal that an office shoul be opened in Hong Kong to deal with counter publicity against communists and connected work and we hope that it will be possible to establish an office as soon as possible. I am not yet clear that Foreign Office is prepared to accept financial responsibility for such an office. This Government will undertake to provide suitable premises.

2.

I favour officer appointed being a member of Regional Information Office in Singapore.

Office

3.

I do not like designation suggested in paragraph 4 of Singapore telegram under reference and would (suggest? omitted) "Regional Information Office, Hong Kong Representative". could most suitably be situated adjacent to Hong Kong Public Relations and close contact would have to be maintained with Public Relations Officer.

40

As regards work it will be essential to avoid any direc criticism of communists in China as would lay Hong Kong open to charges of interfering in Chinese domestic affairs and it would therefore be essential for officer appointed to keep in liaison with political Adviser.

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