CO537-1658 — Page 29

6.

tang bias, and it was difficult to get the promoters to realise

that their celebrations were to take place here under the British

flag or to give that flag the prominence which ordinary rules of

courtesy governing the relations of guest to host might seem to

require. However complaisant to control and however thankful for

permission the promotors profess themselves to be on these occasions

one has the impression that they mean to have it their own way,

and give the whole proceedings just that particular colour which

they prefer.

15.

The Party has recently proposed the erection for "cultural"

purposes, whatever that may mean, of a Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall

in Hong Kong and has sought "facilities" from this Government for

the project. The plans have got no further than the formation of

a Committee, some of the members of which aver that their consent

to serve has not been obtained, to collect subscriptions. The

proposal illustrates the proprietary attitude of the Kuomintang

towards Hong Kong and its disregard of the really urgent needs

of the place, to which any available sites, building materials,

and capital should in present circumstances be devoted.

16.

In all these affairs it has become evident that the local

Chinese, apart from those who are strongly partisan in favour of

the Communists or the Democratic Party, are not disposed to anta-

gonise the Kuomintang, however lukewarm their sympathies may be

towards it. The reason is not far to seek; in the prevailing

uncertainty as to the future of the Colony, the Chinese who belongs

to Hong Kong and has all his property and prospects for future

livelihood centered here, does not wish to find himself in the event

of the rendition of Hong Kong to China a person of no influence

with or even in disfavour with what is the most powerful political

party in China.

17.

The relations of the Kuomintang in Hong Kong to the

office of the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs for Kwangtung and

Kwangsi, who has his residence and headquarters here, present some