CO_1030_188_COMMUNIST_PROPAGANDA_IN_HONG_KONG_1956 — Page 2

P. G. F. Dalton, Esq. Political Adviser, Hong Kong.

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SECRET

(R. W. Jakeman)

:

1

FED.79/400/04

SECRET

Colonial office,

The Church House,

Great Smith Street,

London, 8.W.1.

Lettersent

25th May, 1956.

2

In a current internal Colonial Office review of Communist activities in the Colonies, Hong Kong naturally looms large; there is one aspect of this report which causes us particular anxiety and on which we should like to seek your help.

and

2. For Hong Kong itself the very real dangers of the internal situation, arising from the proximity of the Colony to Communist China and the composition of its population, are an inevitable concomitant of our remaining there; and, if I may say so, we recognise the wisdom and adroitness with which the situation has been handled. You keep us very well informed, and we realise that everything possible is being done to meet the Communist threat. This letter however is concerned with the use of Hong Kong as a base for the distribution of Chinese Communist publicity material to other Colonies, not only in South East Asia but also in the West Indies and elsewhere, where Chinese communities exist. It seems clear that the Colony is becoming one of the main centres for the dissemination of propaganda among overseas Chinese: and we wonder whether the requirements of the internal situation really mean that we must just tolerate this.

3. That problem is particularly serious because of the traditional readiness of the overseas Chinese to take the colour of their politics from the Chinese Government of the day and to value news and views from the Chinese mainland more highly than any other kind of information available to them. The insidious effect of such propaganda on the Chinese in our other territories is undoubtedly one of the principal subversive threats which we have to face; and the effect on the younger generation of over- seas Chinese is especially ominous for the future. It is much easier to state the problem than to propound solutions to it and we fully realise that solutions do not depend on action in Hong Kong alone. The control of entry of such literature by the Governments of the Colonies for which the propaganda is intended comes into the question, and also the far from simple problem of providing attractive alternative reading-material.

We should, however, be greatly helped if you could send us a) a detailed appreciation of the volume of Chinese propaganda coming into the Colony in the shape of books, periodicals, pamphlets, newspapers, films, gramophone records, etc., and (b) a detailed appreciation of the C. P.G. machinery (which we assume must exist) for receiving and reprinting Communist propaganda in Hong Kong and of the organisations, commercial or Chinese Government-sponsored, which are responsible for disseminating the propaganda to other colonial territories. We should also be glad to have your suggestions for defeating this Communist activity.

5. In the light of your reply, it would be possible to consider what might be done by legislative and administrative means (a) to reduce the volume of propaganda imported into Hong Kong from

China,

Sir Alexander Grantham, GCNG.,

Hong Kong.

*

13

China, (b) to control the reprinting and exporting of propaganda from Hong Kong, and (c) to improve the controls, in the various Colonies affected, on the importation of Communist literature. As you will know from the Secretary

of State's saving No. 536, we have in fact already authorised the Governor of North Borneo to impose a blanket ban, subject to consultation with yourself, on the producte of certain Hong Kɔng publishing houses; and we are about to give the same authority to Mauritius, which has also reised the question.

(Sgd.) J. M. MARTIN,

File No. FED 79/400/01

Mr. Johnston s

Sir John Martin,

Mr. Ashton...

Mr.

Mr.

15

Macdonald. Y 175

Watson.

Mr. Evans. -

Mr. Carstairs away)

Permt. U.S. of S.

Parly. U.S. of S.

Minister of State

Secretary of State

25/5

Your Reference.

Date

May, 1956.

DRAFT

Air mail letter

Sir Alexander Grantham, G. C.M. G.,

Government House,

Victoria,

Hong Kong.

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KWA.2315

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(94221) Wt. 42390-6641 5000 pads 10/54 D.L.

(For signature of Sir John Martin)

SECRET

intina Colad

In a current, Office review of

current

•

Communist activities in the colonies, moh Hong Kong makinally looms - large and attention is naturally being given to the

there is one aspect of

This report which situation in Hong Kong That situation

us portiunder angively and in which I we causes/anxiety in two respects. should like is sech your helps.

2. Firstly, there is the internal sp

uation, arising from the proximity of

and

the colony to Communist China from the

are

an

composition of its population, and especially

mentable comcronutritory from the great influence of Communist-

our uncing

mucusing there;

and, If Ing by so, we recognise the urschon and

controlled trades unions in the public

dorthers will which youre handling the situation utility services in our view, potentially

has been handled &

a very grave internal danger. If I may say

-So,

You keep us very well informed on the

and

internal situation, /we realise that every-

thing possible is being done to meet the

Communist threats we have no new

suggestions to make at the moment.

however is

This

Α

letter is more concerned with the second. probten

apees, the use of Hong Kong as a base for

the distribution of Chinese Communist

pubhut prepaganda material to other colonies, not

also but in

only in South-East Asia but in the West

Indies and elsewhere,

communities exist,

where

It seems

Chinese

cleair

bat

the Bolig is the comm in the main centies for the dissemmatic of propag

is becoming one of 1/3. That

adu

amy

we reco

blunese:

and

we winder, whether the &qurements of,

ukivial situation really

itve

that we mit

just Holeradé

this

3.

The problem is particularly serious of the linditinal endurers of the

because rseas Chinese appear se readily

• Loverseas

to take the colour of their politics from the

Chinese Government of the day and to value news

and views from the Chinese mainland more highly

than any other kind of information available

to them.

the effect on the younger generation

the

of overseas Chinese is especially ominous for

easier

the future. It is much more easy to state

the problem than to propound solutions to it

and we fully realise that solutions do not

alone.

depend entirely on action in Hong Kong The

of Ophy of such bleitun

controlsby the governments of the colonies for

into

which the propaganda is intended, of the mount entry Comes who the questing once and alsov of such literature is a matter of importance and alov

for. for suple powerlen of punding

the provi

attractive

iven

g

on the initiative of H.M. Government,

alternative reading-material

for

the people who would otherwise read the Communist

propaganda is another matter receiving careful

here,

consideration.

The insitions affect

of such purpayudar

This Puere

nour other

tentimes is undoubtedly

me

J

the prcepul anticisive we have

livals which face and

of the import of

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40

We should, however, be greatly helped if

5.

you could try and send us (a) a detailed appreciation

of the volume of Chinese propaganda coming into

the colony in the shape of books, periodicals,

pamphlets, newspapers, films, gramophone records,

detriled

etc, and (b) an appreciation of the C.P.G. machinery

mor ex vor)

inluck we ass

for receiving and reprinting Communist propaganda

in Hong Kong and the organisations, commercial

or Chinese Government-sponsored, which are

responsible for disseminating the propaganda to

other colonial territories. We should also be

glad to have your suggestions for defeating this

Communist activity.

For our part, In the light of your reply, cold then it would be for ble to

we propose to consider what might be done by

legislative and administrative means (a) to

/reduce thereduce the volume of propaganda imported into

Hong Kong from China, (b) to control the

reprinting and exporting of

propaganda

from Hong Kong, and (c) to improve the controls

in the various colonies affected, on the importa-

tion of Communist literature.

how for the jeevay of

(4) ~ FED 159/0/01

no.

536

As

ул

State's

will

Sangram

we have in fact already

auttimised the giveror of North Bornes

is

impose

a than luk ban, subject

consultulia with

jouself,

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products of cutan thang kung publishing

houses

از

and we

are about byeve

tgive

the question.

the same auttianty to Manutius

which has als roured the

X

SECRET

Extracts from Minutes on ISD 105/01.

x

X

1

The Survey opposite shows one increasingly dangerous common factor, the growing importation of Communist literature. This began to be a large problem in 1950, constant exhortations have been sent to Colonial Governments and, with a few notable exceptions, all seem to have legislation which, if strictly administered, could stop much of this literature. The Communists, like the Roman Catholic missionaries

before them, now know the value of pictographic propaganda among Africans, and there is nothing ostensibly subversive in glossy pictures of Communist youth dancing in the gardens and the like. The only answer is, I think, blanket banning by sources. (But, if I may draw on my own experience, what real good does it do to ban reading matter to the book-starved to peoples who believe that to read and to write is the only European superiority and to put nothing in its place? Surely we could reverse the position at no great expense by translating standard works into a few main languages. The Bible is not enough. )

-

(sgd) Juxon Barton

27 February, 1956.

I have only one comment. I think we should state quite frankly that although there is no Communist Party in the political sense in Hong Kong there can be no doubt that the Chinese Communist Party operates within the Colony on an organised' and clandestine basis. Most of the trade unions in public utilities are Communist-controlled and their power represents, in my view, a potentially very grave internal danger to the Colony. We should perhaps also make some mention of the fact that Hong Kong is one of the main centres for the dissemination of Communist literature throughout not only South East Asia but all Colonies where a Chinese community exists.

2. I think we are altogether too complacent about Hong Kong which in my view (and I spent four years in the Far East dealing with Communism) is more Communist- penetrated than any other Colony.

S.I.A. 2.3.56.

(sgd) A. M. MacDonald.

I agree with Mr. MacDonald's view of the danger in Hong Kong; but, given the composition of her population and her geographical situation, it is difficult to see what can be done about it. We owe more than is immediately obvious to the wisdom of the present Governor. Perhaps the file could later be returned to Mr. MacDonald for his comments as to any action we might consider to reduce the danger or safeguard against it.

I entirely endorse Mr. Barton's comment about the importance of providing suitable literature to compete with the glossy Communist publications.

(intd) J. M. M. 17/3

N

SECRET

Sir John Martin

- 2

Reference your minute of March 17, I agree that it is easier to diagnose the disease than to prescribe a remedy. I have just been out to Singapore, Hong Kong, Sarawak and North Borneo and there can be no doubt that Chinese Communist literature sent from Hong Kong is one of the main spearheads of propaganda directed at the overseas Chinese communities. I have had the same experience in Fiji, British Guiana, Jamaica and Trinidad and I know it to be true of Mauritius as well. The problem is of steady and continuing subversion of overseas Chinese who tend, as always, to take the colour of their politics from China. The effect on the generation now growing up is, in my view, serious in the extreme, and in a very short time when this generation attains to manhood we will find our problems have greatly increased.

2. I know and appreciate how adroitly the Governor of Hong Kong has held his delicately-balanced scales. In Hong Kong with its 100% Chinese population we must give battle as best we may and the large and imaginative schemes for resettling and rehabilitating refugees must compel anyone's admiration. But that does not alter the fact that from the British Colony of Hong Kong a steady stream of C. P.G. propaganda goes out to contaminate the overseas Chinese communities in other British Colonies. I have the following suggestions for consideration:-

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40

(a) I think we need from Hong Kong a detailed appreciation of the volume

of Chinese propaganda coming into the Colony in the shape of books, periodicals, pamphlets, newspapers, films, gramophone records, etc.

(b) We require to examine the C. P. G. machinery for receiving and re-

printing Communist propaganda in Hong Kong and the organisations, commercial or subsidised, which are responsible for disseminating this propaganda to other Colonial territories.

(The Hong Kong Special Branch, the S. L. O., the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs and the Information Department might co-operate in producing the above appreciation. If necessary they might set up a small working committee to examine the problem.)

(c) Having secured such an appreciation, we might consider possible

measures, including legislation to:

S

(i) cut down the volume of propaganda imported into Hong Kong

from China;

(ii) control the reprinting and export of C. P. G. propaganda from Hong Kong;

(iii) control the importation of Chinese Communist literature into the

various Colonies affected.

I am not sanguine regarding the possibility of producing alternative pabulum for the young Chinese mind in Colonial territories. The thirst is for news and views from the "homeland", China. I doubt whether any substitute will command attention, at least until the flow from China via Hong Kong has been substantially reduced.

5.

It is obvious that Hong Kong is a battleground of ideas. Its position and population make that inevitable. I am not convinced that because of this we should tolerate Hong Kong being used as a base for the production and dissemination of C. P. G. propaganda to other Colonial territories which are not so near to China and not so exposed to subversive infiltration.

S. I.A. 25.4.56

(sgd) A. M. MacDonald

Mr. Ashton

Pse arrange for regn. of the appropriate minutes on a H. K. file and dft. for conson, passing through Mr. MacDonald, Mr. Watson, Mr. Evans & Mr. Johnston a letter to Gov. putting Mr.MacDonald's points & suggestions.

(inta) J. M. M. 28/4

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