CO537-5132 — Page 146

10.

(21) in

96012/15/49.

X

Information Services in Hong Kong.

In the report by the Minister of Defence on

hit visit to Hong Kong he stated that:-

2.

(a) there seemed to be room for more counter

propaganda;

(b) the Hong Kong information services needed

strengthening.

On (a) the F.0. are in telegraphic communication

with the Commissioner-General in Singapore. We think

that action should be taken under the wing of the

anti-Communist propaganda organisation recently set up

under the Commissioner- General; and the Commissioner-

-General has been asked for definite proposals as

regards Hong Kong.

3.

We

On (b) we have but little information.

have heard from two sources that the Governor does not

think that the present Public Relations Officer

(Mr. Gordon Harmon) will "set the Thames on fire"; and

last March I wrote to Hong Kong saying that we might

But

be able to find a better man if they wished.

Mr. Harmon is a fluent Cantonese speaker a rare

qualification

and the Governor may prefer to keep him.

All that we could do at this stage on (b) would be to

draw the Governor's attention to the views of the

Minister of Defence on the need for strengthening the

local information services and ask for his views.

4.

at (11)

A separate note is being sent over about

broadcasting development in Hong Kong.

烛

5.7.49.