CO_968_257_COMMUNIST_ACTIVITIES_IN_HONG_KONG_1952 — Page 90

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BRITISH HK AUTHORITIES TOLD: "YOUR TERRORIST ACTIONS FRIGHTEN NO ONE"

CANTON, Feb. 7:- The Chinese people have every legitimate right to live in Hongkong, part of China forcibly soized by the British imperialists. This was understood in an editorial in February 5th Issue of the Lien Ho Pao, a local Canton paper, in referring to the recent crines of the British Hongkong authorities in ruthless oppression of Chinese residents there.

The editorial goes on to say that the American and British imperialists want to turn Hongkong into an advance base to invade China. "We shall never tolerate nor be indifferent to this, the editorial declared.

Another Canton papar, Nan Fang Daily voices a similar protest. The paper cites many specific facts exposing the vicious oppression of Chinese residents by the British Government in Hongkong in the recent years and especially in the recent months. After each attack, the paper points out, "the Chinese people in Hongkong struggle heroically. The Chinese people have repeatedly protested and warned the British imperialista, but they do not mend their ways. This reactionary polley of continued hostility to the Chinese residents we will never tolerate." The editorial goes on to say, "These terrorist actions and provocations by the British Government in llongkong cannot frighten any one. ¿ day of reckoning will come. Towards the struggle against oppression by our patriotic countrymen in hongkong, we express our concern and support. We believe that under reliable support of the mighty motherland, as long as they closely unite and maintain constant struggle, they will achieve victory.

In conclusion the editorial says, "we will never tolerate the unscrupulous and tyrannical oppression of our ompatriots by the British imperialists on Chinese soil they seized by force and at a time when the Chinese people have already risen. We must launch an even wider and persistent campaign resolutely to support the just struggle of our countrymen in Hongkong until we have victoriously crushed the vicious schemes of the American and British imperialists."

( 1151 NITUA )

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48

"Persecutions" in Hongkong

In the interrupted foreign affairs debate in the House of *Commons a fortnight ago neither Government nor Opposition speakers showed concern about the press and radio campaign against Hongkong which has been going on in China since the end of January. This has been conducted with a virulence of language which could hardly be exceeded if the Chinese Communists were preparing some kind of coup against the colony, and even if it is regarded as mere barking with no bite to follow (though in Korea a very hard bite followed the barking), it is at least a reminder that British possession of Hongkong is an issue between Britain and China. Eleven national organisations in China have issued a manifesto warning the British authorities to

stop "the persecution of Chinese residents in Hongkong,” and this has been taken up by the press, one organ of which describes Hongkong as Chinese territory "forcibly occupied by British imperialists for over a hundred years

" and now

a base for economic aggression and the headquarters of imperialist conspiracy and criminal activities against the Chinese mainland."

1 The "

persecution," of which the Chinese Communist- controlled press complains, consists of the expulsion from Hongkong of certain persons who have been fomenting trouble there during the past few months. Without such powers of expulsion, it would be impossible for the Hongkong authorities to maintain order in the colony; if subversive elements were to be imprisoned instead of being expelled, the outcry would only be greater. The Communist claim, as stated, is that "the people of China have the right to reside in Hongkong and to engage in patriotic activities; they can tolerate no violation of these rights." But since “patriotic activities" signify primarily preparations for driving the British out, the toleration of them by the authorities would !! be equivalent to a decision to abandon the colony. No such decision has been taken either by the present or the last British government; on the contrary, additional troops have been sent to Hongkong for its defence during the past three years. It must be assumed, therefore, that there is an intention of holding Hongkong against any attack which may be made upon it.

There is less ground for assuming that all the implications of defending Hongkong in a possible emergency have been seriously studied in official quarters. It is difficult to see how it could be effectively defended without the use of naval and air power; but how would American opinion react to the argument that operations which Britain condemns when proposed as counter-moves to Chinese intervention against the United Nations in Korea might be right and proper for the preservation of a British colony? It is to be hoped that no such contingency will actually arise; but if there is indeed a threat to Hongkong, it will not be averted by totally ignoring the danger.

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