TNAG-0186-FCO40-222-Special-branch-reports-on-Communist-activities-1969 — Page 4

one for women, one for workers, one

for students, one for New Territories residents and one

on MAO study.

Editorial and Propaganda Policy

7.

11

"The task of the Wen Wei Pao is to disseminate

propaganda based on patriotism, socialism and anti-

colonialism amongst the overseas Chinese. This

statement, made by a senior communist press official

in 1960, represents the underlying strategy of the

communist newspapers since they were founded. When

changes of editorial policy have taken place they have

been of a tactical nature; in other words shifts of

emphasis only, without changing the underlying intention

which has been consistent, namely to undermine the

authority of the Hong Kong Government and to extend

the influence of the communists amongst the population

of the Colony.

8.

In the early years following the formation of

the C.P.G. in 1949, the communist press adopted an

aggressive line, praising and encouraging communist

inspired strikes, disturbances and meetings in the Colony.

Highly distorted accounts were published of Government's

policies and counter-measures against communist

activities. These attacks continued despite warnings by

Government until court action was taken against the

leading papers in 1952 for the publication of seditious

articles relating to communist disturbances in Kowloon

that year.

Following these convictions, the tone of the

communist newspapers moderated and, until 1956, they

concentrated on praise of China's achievements, avoiding

any direct attack on the Hong Kong Government.

19.

CONFIDENTIAL