Enclosure 8.
63
10. In paragraph 8 of his letter Mr. Pollock hazards the opinion that the Government sent to Press some of the correspondence concerning the Petition of 1894 "in the hope that they would adversely affect the signing of the Petition". The Government had no such unworthy motive. In asking the Press to publish the correspondence it acted merely on a suggestion made by Mr. H. W. Looker, the head of the leading firm of Solicitors in Hongkong, who was no doubt actuated by the sound principle that it is wise for a man to hear both sides of a question before arriving at a decision.
11. I enclose copy of the questions put by Mr. Pollock at the Meeting of the Legislative Council to which he refers in paragraph 5 of his letter. and of my answer thereto. I do not consider that there is any weight in the argument that an increase in the Un-official element in the Executive and Legislative Councils is necessary for the purpose of dealing with trade and shipping problems which may arise in anticipation of the closing of the war.
The Mercantile Community has ample means through the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce and otherwise of making any suggestions they desire on questions which must obviously be dealt with by His Majesty's Government on lines of Imperial policy and cannot be left to the Legislature of a Crown "olony.
I have, &c.,
Enclosure 1.
F. H. MAY,
Governor, &c.
PRINCE'S BUILDINGS, Hongkong, 9th March, 1916.
SIR, I beg leave to inform His Excellency the Governor that I have this day posted to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies the Petition for greater Un-official representation on the Councils of this Colony and a copy of the signatures thereto, together with a covering letter and the inclosures thereto; and I now inclose similar documents for the information of His Excel- lency, with the exception that I am sending herewith the original signatures to the Petition instead of a copy thereof.
In conclusion I would most respectfully draw the attention of His Excellency the Governor to paragraph 10 of the said covering letter and I now specially appeal to him that. in justice and fairness to the Petitioners and their cause, I may be furnished with copies of all Despatches and of all inclosures thereto which are sent by His Excellency the Governor or by the Hongkong Government to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies with reference to or in any way connected with the above Petition.
The Honourable
Colonial Secretary.
I am, &c.,
H. E. POLLOCK.