C.O.
St. Paul's College
162
17032 Hongkong
12 April 1904
20 MW 04
I have been asked whether I can bring any influence to bear upon the Colonial Office in favour of the object of the inclosed Petition. I know of nothing better than asking you whether you can do anything by talking with some of the C.O. Authorities.
The position is, I think, fairly described in the Petition, and, "pro-Chinese" as I am, I wholly agree with the Petition. The Colonial Office seems to me to make a mistake sometimes, thinking of Hongkong as if it were an Australian Colony.
My sum... forget that Hongkong is a tiny island, mostly of two stupendous brick-lined tunnels into which tens of thousands (200,000) of Chinese flock, not with the idea of boosting British outputs, but for money-making purposes, whilst they leave the desperate part of their entourage on the Brain Strand. There tens of thousands have already bought out the old residential quarters, for they sell at high prices; in many cases have occupied the sites thus acquired within a few hours, over-crowded & rack-rented.
There is a great danger of the British being crowded out. As it is, better-class Britons and Officers, both Naval and Military, find it very hard, often impossible, to obtain houses at reasonable rents, whilst the poorer Britishers are glad to...