CO537-5142 — Page 311

96834/15/48

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BONG KONG

NO. 10

SECRET

The Cələnial Office,

The Church Hɔuse,

Great Smith Street,

Ləndən, S.W. 1.

June, 1948.

18

Sir,

I have the hɔnɔur tɔ refer to your despatch No.4 of 16th January, 1948, on the subject of long-distance broadcasting and tɔ infɔrm you that the project tɔ which you have referred has been discussed with other interested Departments of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdɔm,

2.

In the course of these discussions the Foreign Office has emphasised its view that any broadcasts from Hɔng Kɔng which might be received in South China should be confined tɔ the English and Chinese languages and transmitted ɔn medium frequencies, on the ground that

3.

(a) Chinese susceptibilities would be less likely to be

offended and, in any event, ɔbjectiɔns could be more easily countered, if it could be argued that the broadcasts from Hɔngkɔng, heard in South China, were an 'overflow' of the local medium-wave service, and

(b) His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdǝm is relying upon the forthcoming establishment by the B.B.C. ɔf a high-pɔwered brɔadcasting station in Malaya (joined tɔ Lɔndən by a telecommunications link) tɔ be knɔwn as the 'Voice of Britain Station', tɔ provide a multi-lingual service on higher than medium frequencies for reception in China, among other areas of the Far East. For your information, it is hoped that the B.B.C. will also be able tɔ use Radio SEAC (a powerful shortwave station situated in Ceylən) fər similar broadcasts until such time as the 'Voice of Britain station' can be in operation.

Other factors, such as the greater expense of broadcasting on medium frequencies ɔver lɔng distances and the special nature of Hɔng Kɔng's needs and potential contributiɔn in any approach to a Chinese audience, have been brought forward. The position remains, however, that the Foreign Office is not prepared to support the establishment of a lɔng-distance broadcasting station in Hɔng Kɔng, which would provide either a medium frequency service in English and Chinese, or, still less, a service using additional languages and tropical or high frequencies.

4.

In the circumstances I have come to the cɔnclusiɔn that for the time being the project has no reasonable prospect of being favourably considered and approved and that it should therefore remain in abeyance.

5.

In the meantime a claim fɔr the pɔssible future use of suitable frequencies has been submitted to the Planning Committee of the High Frequency Brɔadcasting Conference at Mexico City and to the Provisional Frequency Board as indicated in my Savingram Nɔ.323 ɔf 12th April, 1948.

I have the hɔnour tɔ be,

Sir,

Your obedient

humble servant,

(sgd) A Creech Jones

GOVERNOR

SIR ALEXANDER GRANTHAM, K.C.K.G.,

etc., etc.,

etc., etc.,