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and was to be discussed with Sir David Trench on the 13th September. New
emergency regulations have been introduced during the past week prohibiting
the possession of fireworks. This measure was designed to deny Communists
easy access to local stocks of gunpowder. There has been a remarkable public
response to an appeal for the surrender of private stocks and more than 100
tons of fireworks have been handed in.
5. Six prominent Hong Kong Chinese have been listed for assassination in
Communist mosquito sheets now circulating. The need to afford protection will
further stretch the police; the threats cannot be ignored as the Communists
have already burned to death a radio personality whom they had threatened to
kill.
The Press
6. Of all the measures taken by the Hong Kong authorities so far, action
against the pro-Communist Press has produced the strongest reaction from Peking,
as evinced by the Chinese ultimatum of 20th August and the burning of our
Mission in Peking.
7. No action has yet been taken against the major Communist organs, but
three of the smaller newspapers have been suspended for six months by direction
of the Courts and a number of persons connected with their publication have been
sentenced for sedition. The remaining Communist Press continues to advocate
violence. Communist reporters continue to be found in circumstances indicating
they are doing more than report the riots, demonstrations, etc., and further
arrests have been inevitable.
8. The closure of the three newspapers was followed by the introduction of
Gestetnered broadsheets, distributed free and containing extracts from other
local Communist and Peking newspapers, incitements to violence and threats to
notables. They are produced in widely-scattered premises, some undoubtedly in
/C.P.G.-owned
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