As sighs of relief thinly disguised as tributes poured in for the newly dead Russian tyrant Stalin, Hong Kong was preoccupied with matters of its own. The duties of governor Sir Alexander Grantham were as taxing as ever. This week a headline read: 'TODAY'S RUGGER: H. E. the Governor to watch Fijinas play Colony XV at Sookunpoo Ground.' Bylined 'Prop', the preview held little hope for the home side. 'As the visitors have already subdued, in no uncertain manner, the Army XV, it is not expected that the Colony side will beat them. But of course we can be sure that the local men will try their best,' wrote Prop bullishly.
'Communist China' was the focus of squabbles between the US and UK over imports of 'war materials' into the mainland. British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden promised the US today that 'she would tighten up shipping controls on the movement of strategic materials to Communist China,' the report read.
The US featured again, this time in a bizarre pun-ridden piece about bird's nest soup. 'US Officials brooding over a report,' howled the headline. It got worse. 'Edible birds' nests are the subject of a report that the US is brooding over, unless they just pigeonholed it.' Trade in the delicacy was bombing in Hong Kong, where it was a rich man's delicacy, the report said. In Communist China, where the Hong Kong trade was destined, 'rich men would rather not be thought rich. It's not healthy. Nor is bird's nest soup, particularly,' mused the writer.
The Star Ferry was in the news then, as now. Indeed, the stories are virtually interchangeable. In the speech of John Keswick, the chairman of the board of the Star Ferry Co to the AGM, he said construction of the new Star Ferry piers would start as soon as the Central Reclamation permitted.
Marine matters were also uppermost in the New Territories, where a ballot was being held for 73 A-class beach huts for the coming bathing season. Applications were welcomed by the district commissioner of the NT with a strict warning of only one per family. Any family caught putting in more than one application would be disqualified.
On the domestic front, Colman's was trying to warm people up with suggestions for 'A quick way to a wonderful NEW salad dressing.' This involved mixing two tablespoons of dry Colman's mustard powder into eight ounces (226 grams) of your favourite mayonnaise. They obviously had iron-clad taste buds then. 'Remember, for extra flavour always use Colman's mustard with hot or cold meals, sandwiches and salads,' the ad continued. Which pretty much covered everything.