5.
Since the early-fifties the communists have
also gained control over a number of other local
newspapers, by both financial and political (united
front) methods. The Hong Kong Commercial Daily and the
Ching Po, two morning newspapers, became pro-communist
in the early 1950's, while the Cheng Wu Pao, a midday
paper, originally financed by pro-communist businessmen,
which has required a heavy C.P.G. financial subsidy since
its inception, came into being in 1961. Three other
newspapers, the Tin Fung Daily, the Afternoon News
(morning editions) and the Hong Kong Evening News (an
afternoon paper), which had been accepting communist
money for several years but ostensibly maintained a neutral
front, began publishing blatant communist propaganda
during the early phases of confrontation. These three
were suppressed for six months by court order in August
last year; the publishers, editors, and printers are
still serving prison sentences for the publication of
various articles in breach of the law.
6.
The present position is, therefore, that the
communists have at their disposal nine newspapers; six
are published in the morning, one at midday and two in
the afternoon. Additionally, two weekly newspapers',
the Economic Reporter and the Week End News are controlled
by the communists but their influence is very small and
they are not considered further in this paper. Both the
Ta Kung Pao and the Wen Wei Pao publish air-mail editions
aimed at overseas Chinese communities, particularly in
Britain, while the Ta Kung Pao publishes a weekly English
language edition. The Wen Wei Pao issues a number of
supplements, on a regular basis, aimed at different sections
/of..
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