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23. Unfortunately Admiral Chan Chak, the Mayor of Canton and a convinced advocate of Sino-British co-operation, is greatly outweighted in the sense of political power and influence by General Chang. The Admiral's presence in Canton is, however, of great value, and there are few visitors from that city who do not convey from him private messages, quaintly worded, to assure us of his continued efforts to maintain and expand the co-operation essential to mutual prosperity.
24. General Festing and myself have both paid flying visits to Canton and been warmly received. I am convinced from what I have seen and heard that many people in South China have been under the impression increasingly since 1942 that Hong Kong would pass to China on the defeat of Japan. What we are experiencing now (and there is no need to take it too seriously) is the reaction provoked by the actual course of events. The British fleet sailed in, and instead of leading a victorious Chinese army (with American planes and equipment) to Kowloon, General Chang still sits in Canton. We must expect pin-pricks for some time to come.
H
B
25. Two major problems inmigration control and the investigation of quislings and collaborators have been of the nightmare variety. Lacking even a percentage of the staff necessary to handle immigration, we have followed the negative policy of leaving the immigration restrictions on the statute book and maintaining the entirely theoretical position that permits are still necessary for entry. Guerilla occupation of the country between Hong Kong and Canton, the fact that the railway schedule is greatly curtailed and incoming trains almost totally reserved for Chinese troops transhipping in Hong Kong, and the shortage of shipping in the West River and in Macau have temporarily saved us.
The population was estimated at about 600,000 in early September: it is now past the 750,000 mark, and is approaching one million, at which it is still manageable, provided reasonable supplies are available. There is yet no sign of the restoration of the facilities and conditions which will swamp us. Correspondence is attached to this report which reveals how near the bottom of the barrel we have come with immigration policy.
The policy is deplorable but the results are not unsatisfactory.
Few
26.
The problem of quislings and collaborators in the complicated social pattern of Hong Kong is one of extreme difficulty. A brief note attached to this report records the position. Between thirty and forty suspected collaborationists are under arrest pending completion of investigation. substantial citizens of the colony escaped contact with the occupying forces in one form or another: consequently few are free from the besmirchment of rumour and whisper. The result has been hideously embarrassing for an administration seeking to work in co-operation with, and to place maximum responsibility in the hands of, local oitizens. Much of the business of conducting local affairs has in times past been conducted through various committees of Chinese: the personnel of these committees, many of them experienced in publiq business, occupied at least nominal positions of responsibility under the Japanese: it seems certain that a proportion of them behaved very badly, whether or not eventual evidence will justify proceedings under the terms of the directive.
27. In these circumstances the administration has necessarily had to maintain an attitude of caution, though in fact Chinese are now occupying judicial and executive posts with responsibilities unknown before the war. The investigation branch of the police, with less than a fifth of its minimum staff requirements, is working very hard to widen the area of choice by sorutinising the records of individuals whose talents qualify them for public office. It is for all concerned a distasteful and sometimes an emotionally distressing business.
28. No debate has waxed hotter than that concerning Sir R. Kotewall, former member of Executive Council, and for many years the leading Chinese adviser to the Government of Hong Kong. As with so many other problems in this colony I am sure that we will know with oomplete certainty in 1947 what we ought to have done in 1945. Sir Robert Kotewall's conduct during enemy occupation has provoked in many quarters accusations and rebuttals of passionate intensity.
In/
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