Jonclosure 4.
a
199
SOUTH
CHINA
/
MORNING. POST, FRIDAY, AFFIL
HOW TO KEEP THE GERMAN OUT.
Members of the Legislature of Hongkong had an opportunity)
terday of expressing their views on the important question as to what extent German mét- chants and their trade methods are to be tolerated after the war. A motion by the Hon. Mr P. H Holyoak introduced the subject. He is for exclusion of persons of German nationality from Hong- kong for a period of ten years and hat thereafter they be admitted
the Colony ito
only under strict license. There is, we believe, not one man in Hongkong today who would not thoroughly endorse the elimination of the Teuton with his underband methods it the idea of declaring Hong- kong closed to them W&S practicable. In the first plače, Hongkong, a mere little speck on the map, could not adopt a policy of exclusion of the German if other parts of the Empire were willing to receive him. Such a couTBS |would inevitably militate to the detriment of this Colony. But, apart from the rest of the Empire.. most of which is very distant from Hongkong, there are to be consider- ed our neighbours-China, the Phi- lippines, Siam, Java, Japan, etc.— with whom we do the bulk of our business. If they should not ex- clude the German trader, would' Hongkong stand to gain by doing so? Provided the Germans are left by the
the war in a position to trade; during the next ten years, which is very much to be doubted, we would soon 800 an organised German effort, perhaps in Can- to divert an much too, business as possible from this Colony, not all of it necessarily in- to German hands but shared by others
who have hitherto envied the prosperity of Hong- kong. The Germans have de clared that they have "shaken the dust of Hongkong from their feet,' Fand when they said so, which was in the early months of the war, when liquidation and intern-
mant
1017
anent **10 fútf swing, they' doubtless had some scheme in ind for restoring their business prestige at our expense. However much we are in sympathy with the spirit which prompts the Hon. Mr Holyoak's views and however much we would like to see the Prussian and his reptile brood wiped off the face of the earth, there is no use shutting our eyes to facts and perhaps making al mistake which might in the long run be regretted. Should the Germans retain any shred! of their trade after the am Hongkong, if the suggested course were pursued, would cer-* tainly be deprived of a share. As to the latter part of the motion everyone agrees that certain welli defined rules for the good conduct, of future business must be devised. Long credits, for instance, are noti considered conducive to sound business. It has been found pos- sible and profitable to trade on a cash basis. Anyone found guilty of immoral or illegitimate business practices should be punished in a degree corresponding to the extent of the advantage he sought to gain over straight-dealing and law- abiding competitors. The Chamber of Commeres could no doubt great- ly assist the Government in fram- ing an Ordinance, and no one, not even the Germans, who would be hard hit by such restrictions, dare openly object to methods devised for ensuring square, honest busi- nese. Besides, Hongkong, in the opinion of its neighbours, would whieh a name earn thereby
that
no crooked opposition the German might start in Can- ton or elsewhere would attack. These rules of business would, of course, have to be applicable to all and sundry to be of any avail, and the first people to squirm un-- der them would be the Germans. But, after all the exposure" have been made since the war be- gan, after all their gross cruelty, wanton destruction, and wilful flaunting of treaties and promises, will there be any need to fear German influence over our cus- tomers? No, the German, mer- skani az militarist, der this war
will