CO537-5142 — Page 225

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96834/15/49

Dear Cloake,

2) April, 1949

He spoke about the question which Mr. Fletcher has put down for oral reply by my Kinister an 4th May. The text for convenience is below:❤

belør

26. tr. Walter Fictsher,- To ask the secretary of State

for the Colonics, what steps have been taken, or are proposed to be taken, and what money has been spent, or is proposed to be spent, in commeotiom with developing the Hong Kong Radio Station in order to extend its range, particularly throughout China,

De agreed that it raises several rather delicate catters of interest to both our Departments and that I should suggest a draft reply upon which you would seek the viewn of your colleagues, še also provisionally agreed that the best way to approach the reply seemed to be a forthright statement that Singapore, not Bong Kong has been chosen 8 the site for broadcasting to China ato,, followed by a reference to the fact that consideratim is being given to an increase in the power of the damestic Hong Kong broadcasting service but (ostensibly, as we know) primarily for domestic reasna,,

Further reflection in the course of drafting a suggests? reply, of which I enclose a copy, has confirmed ne in the belief that this is the right approach. It appears to me that in any answer which does not make the moɛt of Singapore even the best reasons for not using Hong Kong mist seem weak in J. C. CLOAK.

/ the

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