Content of Communist Newspapers
24.
A recent Special Branch survey of the items
carried by the communist press indicates that the
doctrinaire morning newspapers (the Ta Kung Pao and the
Wen Wei Pao) devote nearly a quarter of their space to
news from China and about one-fifth to local news. An
eighth (one page) concentrates on international news.
The other newspapers carry very little China news
ranging from about one twentieth of a page in the Tin
Fung Daily and Afternoon News to a fifth of a page in
the Hong Kong Commercial Daily. These papers devote the
majority of their space to fiction and other items
designed to appeal to the public. At Appendix 'E' is
a breakdown of the items appearing in the communist
newspapers on a normal day, i.e. when there are no
major news items from China or on the local scene
25.
With the instructions from China to improve
circulation it is possible that even the doctrinaire
newspapers may change their format and devote more
space to non-political items.
Propaganda Tasks
26.
The tasks facing the communist press machine
at present can be summarised as follows:-
(a)
(b)
to maintain and improve the morale of
communist supports;
to widen the base of popular support for
the communists by exploiting social and
economic grievances and promoting a good
image on behalf of the local communist
movement;
/(c)....
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