472 Anecdotes from the Port of England's "Political Department": Cold War Frontline Spy Capital Hong Kong and the British Colonial Intelligence Network
The hit release of Cold War 1994 has brought a special department from the Port of England era into the public eye. Administratively subordinate to the Hong Kong Police Force, it was operationally directly under the command of Britain's MI5; this was the "Political Department." Originating from a special division of Scotland Yard in the late 19th century to deal with the Irish independence movement, how did the "Political Department" draw on the experience of the Shanghai International Settlement to build an intelligence network in the Far East based on the colonial system? From dealing with dockworkers' movements and monitoring the maneuvering between the KMT and the CCP, to becoming an intelligence window into the mainland during the Cold War, what were the core functions of the Port of England's "Political Department"? As 1997 approached, how did the dissolution of the Political Department echo Britain's response to new changes in the global landscape? Welcome to listen to the wonderful sharing by our guests Sha Qingqing and Zheng Shiliang in this episode!
Original Chinese title & description
472 港英「政治部」轶闻：冷战前线的谍都香港与英国殖民地情报网
《寒战1994》的热映，让港英时代一个特殊部门走入公众视野。它在编制上隶属香港警队，事务上却直接听命于英国军情五处，这便是「政治部」。起源于19世纪末苏格兰场应对爱尔兰独立运动的特别分部，「政治部」如何借鉴上海公共租界经验，依托殖民体系搭建远东情报网络？从应对码头工运、监控国共博弈，到冷战时期成为窥探内地的情报窗口，港英「政治部」的核心职能究竟是什么？临近九七，政治部的解散如何呼应了英国面对全球格局的新变化？欢迎收听本期嘉宾沙青青、郑诗亮带来的精彩分享！
Participation credit “本期话题成员”：沙青青（微信公众号：13号埋立地）。
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