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families, complain bitterly of the treatment to which they have been
subjected. They may have been poor, but among them I have met real
gentlemen, poorly dressed perhaps, but, withal, clean in body and
mind. (I speak from firsthand knowledge I have visited the homes of quite a few Chinese of this class.) Acta so flagrantly contrary to principles of Chinese etiquette make their British superiors
appear to them 'uncultured boors'.
For men in X's position, to pander to the Chinese, or pan- per them (as some missionaries do), would be a serious mistake, and
to put their Chinese subordinates on a level with themselves would be extremely unwise. But, on the other hand, can not British people, placed in positions of authority over a number of Chinese, be made to understand clearly that there exists a difference between authority and tyranny, superiority and incivility, straightforwardness and rude-
ness, respect and fear? Does not power over other men impose certain
responsibilities?
Unfortunately, X's whole attitude of mind towards the Chinese was characteristic of very many British people in the Colony before the war. I have heard even 'old China hands' speak in the
same lanner as X and express the opinion that" the Chinese don't think
anything of it and, in the case of the few who do, what of it? Look
at the way the Chinese treat their own people." If this attitude of
mind, in its varying shades, expressed in the conduct of a large pro- portion of British people of Hong Kong towards the Chinese, is allowed to continue, can genuine friendly relations between the two peoples flourish? Will not Anglo-Chinese social functions for good-