475
These are specious arguments. It would not
be easy to refute them on democratic principles: if the request for an unofficial majority were conceded it would be impossible.
Obviously, however, they cannot be allowed
to prevail if Hongkong is to remain a British Colony. Any such demands must be rejected and at the present time
rejection may lead to serious trouble.
11.
-
I say 'at the present time' because I have sufficient confidence in the general good sense of the Chinese community and in their appreciation of the advantages which they secure by living under a British administration to believe that in normal times they would acquiesce in the side-tracking of democratic principles and
remain content to allow the British to work the administrat-
ion on any lines that they prefer so long as they do not interfere unduly with Chinese customs and prejudices.
But the times ere not normal. The disturbed
state of the neighbouring Provinces of China reacts strongly
on Hongkong, and the prevalence of revolutionary and Bolshevist ideas in Canton has a very serious influence on
the population of this Colony, as we have seen from the
events connected with the great strike of 1922, The unruly
labour guilds here will make the most of any political cry
and the measure of the trouble which they will cause is the
measure of the support which they can obtain from Canton.
If the Communist party in Canton holds the supreme power, political agitation here will flourish vigorously and a very dangerous situation will arise. If a reasonable and
orderly Government is established in Canton, we need not
expect much trouble in Hongkong.
12.
These are the political considerations to
which I referred in the first paragraph of this despatch as
one of the causes of my delay in reporting upon the
petition.
I
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