2.
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t
to family and social matters. In general he came to be looked
to for advice by the Chinese, who tended to make their councils,
their charitable activities and their voluntary work in the
public service largely dependent on his leadership. This
aspect of his work assumed greater importance after his original
functions as Registrar-General had been dispersed through other
departments of Government in the course of time. He became
concerned with external affairs in China to the extent to which,
either by their repercussions or through the actual inter-
ference of individuals, they had an effect on the peace and
good order of the Chinese in Hong Kong; and he became concerned
with Chinese affairs in other countries, particularly those of
the British Empire, to the extent to which Chinese migrated to
those countries from or through Hong Kong, and kept up communi-
cations subsequently with their homeland through Hong Kong.
Control of the Chinese press and Chinese publications generally
in the Colony and of labour guilds and associations of all
kinds further meant that he had to keep in touch with the
political situation in China, especially in the neighbouring
province of Kwangtung, in order to check any undesirable
influences which might be spread through the agency of such
publications, or which might inspire the conduct of such
associations. The Secretary for Chinese Affairs thus tended
to become the champion of the local Chinese against harmful
influences from abroad and the guardian of the peaceable local
inhabitant against interference from China. Thus it would be
by no means accurate to say that the Secretary for Chinese
Affairs has hitherto been solely concerned with local affairs,
since he has at all times required a considerable knowledge of
what is happening in China and its bearing on the situation in
Hong Kong, in order to be able to perform his duties in the
interest of the Hong Kong Chinese and the peace and good order
X