C
Hp. below
585
This has been delayed for some days as I could hardly believe that the reasons for confining membership of the Executive Council to Europeans had not previously been discussed at some time or other during the 28 years in which there have been unofficials on the Council. I have however been unable to trace any papers in which the question was raised. It would even appear that the appointment of a Chinese was neither mentioned nor thought of during the long discussion with Sir E. Stubbs on constitutional reform
a fact which is significant in itself. The danger of the Governor's proposal lies, of course, not so much in the appointment of Sir Shou-son Chow himself, for which there is a good deal to be said both on political and other grounds, but in the practical certainty that once the principle is conceded his successors would always have to be Chinese. And what likelihood is there that we shall be fortunate enough to see in Hongkong a succession of Chinese residente not only of sufficient authority but of sufficient stability and loyalty to be worthy of appointment to the Executive Council? The merchant class will of course always have a direct interest in the preservation and prosperity of the Colony, but it must be remembered that Chinese British subjects have a dual nationality and their natural ties to and affinities with China proper must be expected at times to subject them to
severe strain.
I should imagine moreover that the discussion of a good many subjects would be extremely awkward in the Executive Council if a Chinese member were present. Well as the Chinese unofficials on the Legislative Council have acquitted themselves in the troublous
times