CO537-5132 — Page 139

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Memorandum

RM.

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ANTI-COMMUNIST INFORMATION WORK

IN HONG KONG

Mr. Malcolm MacDonald has proposed in his

telegram No.455 from Singapore to the Foreign

office, the appointment of an additional

Information Officer in Hong Kong, for anti-

Communist work particularly. It has been

suggested that the officer, if appointed,

should work in close relationship to the

Regional Information Office now being establish-

ed in Singapore.

This suggestion has been discussed between

the Colonial Office and Foreign Office at a

high level and the following are their agreed

views:

1. It is necessary first to have fuller

information on the shape of the kegonal

Information Office and its capacity before

agreeing to an appointment of a represen-

tative of that office outside Singapore.

(The Foreign Office have already telegraphed

for this Information)

2.

From the point of view of the Colonial

Office such an appointment is desirable in

that the present Public Relations Officer

is already working to capacity on normal

public relations work for the Colonial

Government.

3. The Governor of Hong Kong has also

supported the proposal in a letter to Sir

Ralph Hone dated 20th June, reference 31/3571,

498.

4. If such an officer is appointed, he will

People

have to be one of the very few individuals

capable of entering into close relationships

with have to

with Chinese individuals and be of a high

A

calibre altogether.

/ 5.