CO129-447 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [1-3] — Page 322

No

65.

onclosure 1.

21232

317

Rest | MAY 181

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 25th, February, 1918.

Sir,

I have the honour to enclose a copy of a Memorandum by the Hongkong War Propaganda Committee on the

subject of Propaganda literature in China suggesting the establishment of a Chinese Vernacular Paper for the furtherance of British interests in South China. I forwarded a copy of the Memorandum on the 15th. October, 1917, to the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce for their consideration suggesting a

reference to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and with an

intimation that the Colonial Government would be prepared to

support the project. I also enclose a copy of their reply

dated 13th. December, 1917, from which you will observe that the Chamber appointed a special sub-committee to consider the subject and decided to form a Limited Company with a capital of $150,000, in which they anticipated no difficulty provided the scheme was backed by the Colonial Government. On the 8th. of January I caused the Chamber of Commerce to be informed in a letter, copy of which is enclosed, that I would forward the scheme to you and ask your sonction to devote a sum not exceeding $10,000 a year to guaranteeing the Company from any loss incurred in conducting the newspaper until its success was assured. I have now received their reply dated 18th. February of which I enclose a copy.

2.

RIGHT HONOURABLE

WALTER LONG, M.P.,

&c.,

80..

&c...