Singapore telegram No. 115 Saving to Foreign Office
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how it was that foreigners could do so much as they had done, for example, with the barren rock of Hong Kong within seventy or eighty years, while in four thousand years China had no place like Hong Kong. We must do the same A thing; we must learn by English examples".
Even in times of emergency like the present, Hong Kong maintains its liberal tradition. It is true that certain measures had to be taken a month or two ago, including the closing of the so-called Ta Teh College a school in the New Territories attended almost entirely by Chinese from China and from South-East Asian countries. It was closed by the police when it was discovered that most of the staff were Communists and that it really was a school for Communism. The amendment of the Societies 1 Ordinance was applied equally to all parties, and was solely directed against subversive political activity. At the same time, the local Communists continued to put out news services and newspapers, run Marxist bookshops and distribute Communist literature. Anything less like
"a reign of terror" could hardly be imagined.
Hong Kong languished and almost perished under the Japanese occupation. Half the population were forcibly deported. The return of British administration was welcomed with unrestrained enthusiasm, and the recovery of trade and industry in the Colony since the war has been quite extraordinary. And Hong Kong to-day fulfils an entrepot role even more vital than in the past, in view of the present situation in Shanghai. That the British should stay in Hong Kong is important to both Chinese and British. As the New Statesman and Nation pointed out, great wealth and great opportunities would be lost to both if the worst occurred. The Chinese population of Hong Kong realise this more to-day than ever, and this is true not only of those with permanent and long-established interests there, but of the million people who have flocked in during the past two years, seeking security and stability and good government so as to carry on their lawful and fruitful vocations in peace and order.
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[Ends]