HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
357
-2-
Disease in the Port. The General Commanding supported the aims of the Commission as did the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Holyoake, and the two members of the Legislative Council present. The Governor atated the difficulty he felt in pressing matters with the large Chinese population.
Permission was given to approach the Chinese through the Secretary for Chinese affaira. The Governor's attitude throughout the meeting was that of hostility to the alms of the Commission. From the Conference onwards the Principal Civil Medical Officer felt himself in a difficult position. Knowing the Governor disapproved of the Commission he felt unable himself to assist in its activities. We took immediate steps to secure the support of Chinese opinion, the Chamber of Commerce and the Women' organisations. The Governor informed us that he would not permit Lady Stubbs to identify herself in any way with the work of the Commission. The Commissioners never met her.
CHINESE POSITION.
Mr.
The Catholic Bishop deputed his lay Secretary, Mr. Braga, to represent him and to work in our interests. It is largely due to Mr. Braga's efforts that our visit here terminated successfully. Chinese opinion was cited as the official reason for opposing the Commission. Braga was in close touch with the Chinese community. There are two Chinese members of the Legislative Council. According to the Governor they had refused to meet the Commissioners. Mr. Lau Chu Pak represented the "old Chinese" and Mr. Fook the wealthy" Eurasian" group.
We first met Mr. Fook's son-in-law, Mr. Lo, and then Mr. Kotowall, Mr. Lau Chu Pak's manager. Both these undertook to present our view to the two members of the Legislative Council. Both reported to us later in the day that the Councillors stated they had never been seriously asked to meet us, but had simply heard a casual reference to the Commission together with the Bug- gestion that they would not want to "waste their time" in meeting us, especially as there was a woman mixed up in it."
As soon as they realised some advantage might acorue
The to the Chinese community they were anxious to meet us. "Old Chinese" almost more so than the "Eurasian" section.
H
A special meeting of the Executive Committee of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce convened by Mr. Lau Chu Pak, was held, followed by a meeting of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce (fully described in the official report).
The Meeting approved by the Governor at the Conference on Friday, December 27th took place under the Chairmanship of the Acting Secretary for Chinese affairs on Friday, 7th January. From the time the Chinese Adviser to the Governor (Chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce) officially presented His Excellency with the unanimous resolution passed at the Conference, Government opposition was slightly reduced. Permission was given to the American Y.M.C.A. to arrange a meeting of their members. No advertisements were allowed, only postal invitations,
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