Hongkong Feels Insecure After Yangtse Incident

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 April 1949, Page 5

Hongkong Feels Insecure After Yangtse Incident

HONGKONG, A-rH 29 (Recd. 10.30 pm).—Hongkong has been shocked into a feeling of insecurity by the events on the Yangtze involving British warships and subsequent Communist truculence toward Britain, says William Parrott, N.Z.P.A.-Reuter correspondent. There is no panic, but some people are already making tentative plans for evacuation. Regular defence services say they are not worried about playing their own part within the means available in the defence of Hongkong, but they feel the public have not pulled theit full weight. They say too many people are still interested in making profits without worrying about the future of the colony.

One principal concern of the defence services is the Communist influence within the trades unions- particularly the public utility unions. The police and the army long feared this potential danger from within, which at a sign might affect the colony’s electric power, gas. transport, water and dockyard services. There is no doubt the regular forces appreciate the capability of the Communists as tough fighters, but neither high officers nor leading civil officials believe that conflict with the Chinese Communists will come, if it ever does until they are in occupation of most of China and particularly neighbouring Kwangtung and its capital Canton • —:—.