7
It is not ownership we want, but power to
secure that the undertaking is managed by
persons who will be loyal to the Government
in time of war or emergency, the latter
being perhaps the more important. We can do
what we like in wartime, but we might be
considerably embarrassed in time of emergency,
e.g. a political strike engineered in Canton,
by an American manager playing up to the
Chinese as against the brutal British.
It
is a great pity that there is not a British
control and management clause in all public
utility concessions. It is too late for that.
But we might have an ordinance empowering the
Governor to take control of any public
utility enterprises such as electricity,
telephone, and bus services. The more we
enumerate the better, as it avoids the
appearance of legislating against this
particular concern.
There is a serious commercial side
to this American invasion. Clearly their
aim will be to substitute American machinery
as opportunities offer, and then get their
money back on the supply of spare parts and
renewals. That will be bad for the electric
industry here and bad for the consumer of
light and power in Hongkong.
And unfortunately
we cannot counter the move by customs duties
in Hongkong. But I see no means of avoiding
the danger.
15:130
G.G.