CO129-401 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [5-6] — Page 117

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Hon. Colonial Secretary,

raf 7 JUN (3 In collecting ideas on the possibility of impending trouble in Canton I find a solid body of opinion among the Hongkonį Merchants that the chances of serious disturbances are very small. Feeling in Hongkong is very distinctly against the present Canton

Government, which is government by the Kwok Man Tong; for the Hongkong Merchants (like those in Canton) are tired of seeing business hampered by an appreciation of business matters on the part of the Government which would be no credit to a newly joined office boy. There is not a single reputable merchant or man of practical business experience in the whole of the Executive, and their regulations have ended only in driving money into Hongkong, where the native Bank rate is now only about a half of what it

was three or four months ago. This movement does not seen however to extend beyond property there are no signs of any special

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exodus from Canton or influx into Hongkong: which means if it mans anything that Canton as a whole may be taking precautions (against their own government and others) but that they shew no fear of any immediate or great disturbance.

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There is further no secret made of the patent dis- -honesty of almost every member of the Canton Government it has become a joke. "Ka Pit Toi China" (the man with a handbag for his pickings) is one nickname for the officials a parody of the "Capitán China" (leading Chinese) of the Straits. Again "yi shap yat kin" (21 pieces) is supposed to be the correct anatomical total of the parts of the male frame: a handbag is added, and we get the nickname "yi shap yi kin" (22 pieces) for the official. And there

are others.

Incapacity and dishonesty have combined to alienate all the better feeling in the South from the existing administra- -tion; men of standing, who I know were (and who may continue to be) of the Kwok Man Tong have said to me that the methods of the party bid fair to ruin China: "they look after their own pockets and not the public good": and that a change is absolutely necessary and

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