CO129-433 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [5-6] — Page 244

242

Europeans Americans and Chinese, 1,900

The census further analyses as follows, the

Out of the total of European and American population.

8,500 the resident civil population amoginted only to 4,200 the British military and naval forces numbered 2,900, and the remaining 1,400 represented merchant

Of the 4,200 individuals seamen, police, and others. who constituted the European and American civil popula-

Of this tion, 1,450 only were returned as British. number not more than 800 were adult males, and therefore presumably not more than 800 of them would be entitled

to vote.

6. I shall revert to these figures shortly in connexion with the question of popular representation Meanwhile it may be deduced from them that under the existing form of government the population of Hongkong has in half a century increased (say) twentyfold which is prima facie evidence, as you suggest in your despatch,

But a further that the colony has been well governed. deduction has also to be made, and that is that under the protection of the British Government Hongkong has become rther a Chinese than an European community; and the fact that the Chinese have settled in the Island in such large numbers has not only been one main element in its prosperity, but also the most practical and irrefutable evidence that the government under whiche politically timid race such as the Chinese have shown every desire to live, must have at least possessed How far some measure of strength and of justice. Hongkong is a Chinese settlement, how far the Chinese have paid the taxes and contributed to the trade is touched unon in Mr. Lockhart's excellent memorandum He is clearly of which accompanies your despatch.

opinion