H. of C.
H.M.M.
Page
CONFIDENTIAL Restricted
146
58
Interview on 3 August at 4 p.m.
at M.F.A. on
Chung Hua School
Present:
H.M.M.
H. of C.
Mr. Weston
Mr. Hsueh (Deputy Director of
West European Department)
and three other Chinese.
Mr. Hsueh began by saying he had asked H.M.M. to come because he wished to discuss a very important matter. On 19 July the Hong Kong British Authorities had started legal proceedings to cancel the registration of the Chung Hua school.
This
constituted a serious step in fresh persecution of Chinese patriotic schools and education undertakings in Hong Kong. He wished to express the Chinese Government's serious concern.
2. Chung Hua school enjoyed a high social reputation. However, since May 1967 the British had carried out
they had searched many armed raids against the school; and plundered it and had beaten up and arrested staff and students. On 8 November they closed it down. On 2 November they arrested the headmaster, Huang Tsu-fen. All this was an important part of the British crimes in persecuting compatriots. On 6 December the Chinese Government had, through Mr. Hsueh, delivered to H.M.M. a protest against these unwarranted atrocities. However, not only had the British not lifted the closure and released the staff and students of the school, but they had gone from bad to worse. Now they were preparing to cancel the school's registration. This attempt at suppression was a new provocation against the Chinese people and their Hong Kong compatriots.
3. The British side had on many occasions said that they wanted to ease relations and settle outstanding differences. But the present steps were precipitating new tension. He was ordered to sternly warn the British Government: they must enjoin the Hong Kong British Authorities to adopt effective measures to meet the just demands of the students and teachers of Chung Hua school, otherwise the British side would have to be responsible for all the consequences arising therefrom.
4.
H.M.M. replied that if "atrocities" were involved in this matter, Mr. Hsueh must certainly be aware, from previous discussions, that the atrocities were all on the other side.
The reason
They
the Hong Kong police raided the school in November was because there had been an explosion there. found that pupils and teachers of the school were using the premises to make bombs, and that following the explosion one pupil had lost his hand. were well-known facts. The proposed deregistration was because the school had been used for unlawful purposes. It was also intended to protect students
These
/against
tenna pranies. inderd
WAT
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