ENG-1947 — Page 201

it moved to Windsor House. The same company publishes the "Sunday Herald".

The first Chinese paper to be published in the Colony was the "Wah Tsz Yat Po" (**) which was established very soon after the cession of the Colony, and continued to appear until very recently. Another very old paper, also now out of publication, was the "Ts'un Wan Yat Po" (R).

Another early newspaper was the "Daily Press" which only ceased publication in 1941. This was the first daily morning paper in the history of the Colony and its four pages in the early days were mainly concerned with ships and shipping. The paper appears to have led a somewhat itinerant existence and changes of premises are frequently recorded. The printing establishment in 1941 was near Jardine's Godown at the corner of Hennessy Road and Percival Street, Wanchai. During the Japanese attack on Hong Kong in that year, it was severely damaged by shell fire and burned out. The paper has not been re-established since the reoccupation of the Colony.

The "Hong Kong Telegraph" was first issued on 15th June, 1881 and from its inception was noted for its fearless criticism. This policy led on occasion to serious consequences but it made the paper an organ of more than ordinary value to the public. No worthy cause was unchampioned. The "Telegraph" has changed hands on several occasions and like the "Daily Press", though not to the same extent, has led a nomadic existence. Its latest move was in 1925 to the newly erected Morning Post Building in Wyndham Street (which, incidentally, used to be termed "The Fleet Street of Hong Kong"), its interests having in 1916 been merged with the "South China Morning Post".

"The South China Morning Post" first made its appearance on 7th November, 1903. The paper was originally founded with considerable support from among prominent local residents to support the Reform Movement in China. The "South China Morning Post" has been less subject to moves than its con- temporaries and predecessors. Originally situated in Connaught Road Central, the offices were moved first to Des Voeux Road and then in 1913 to Wyndham Street. There they have remained since, although the offices originally occupied were demolished to make room for the new Morning Post Building which was completed in 1926.

The English newspapers continued to appear throughout the fighting in December, 1941, in spite of bombing and increasing technical difficulties due to the hostilities. During the Japanese occupation of the Colony the Morning Post Build- ing was taken over by the Japanese Propaganda Department and for 44 months housed three newspapers, Japanese, Chinese and English. On the re-occupation of the Colony in 1945, no time was lost in beginning publication again and the leading units to disembark from the relieving fleet were surprised to find that a British newspaper was already being distributed; this was a single sheet "extra" edition of the "South China Morning Post" announcing the impending arrival of the relieving forces.

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