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can believe them. Therefore, our deci- sion is that we cannot accept the resolu- tion on its merits. wish to say that I think the whole ques- tion has been summed up in a very terse and very statesmanlike manner by my gallant and hon. friend who sits on my right (the General Officer Commanding).
HON. MR.
HOLYOAK-Bir, before replying to the arguments I would like to ask the Hon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak if he has consulted the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in this mutter.
HON. MR. LAU CHU PAK-There has not been opportunity of consulting the Chinese Chamber of Commerce on the I have consulted many of my matter. friends outside and have expressed their opinions.
now
policy of retaliation,
I do not call it retaliation, I call it just retribu-
wide In conclusion, I tion, and there is
and vast difference between the two words, It has been said that there will be no advant age if this resolution is carried out, and that no lasting peace will be assured. I cannot conceive a condition of peace within this Colony if any Germans are admitted within its domains within the next two years. Personally I should be the first to break the peace. Reference has been made to the punishment of the leaders who organised this war, and who have prepared for it for years, but no attempt has been made to rebut the is being argument made that this war waged by the German people, and the characteristics which have been displayed in the perpetration of the atrocities of this war are to be found in the national character of the people, man, woman and be eradicated for a term of years. There child, as I said before, and will not fore we say that they are unclean and that we will not be associated with them if we can possibly avoid it. Accordingly I have avoided anything in moving the resolution which could be called exag- stress, and far greater freedom if one geration. One could speak with greater
and draw a picture of the conditions which could leave oneself free to imagination, the aftermath of this war will inevitably produce. But the whole burden of my resolution has been lost sight of in every argument advanced against it. I do not ask this Council to endorse a resolution pledging this Colony to legislation that for ten years after the war Germans shall be excluded from coming within our shores. What I ask for and plead for is that we shall pass this resolution and send it home to the Home Govern ment as an expression of the Colony's opinion; an expression of opinion coming from the commercial men of this Colony. The remarks which have fallen from H.E. the Governor are a deliberate flouting of, the studied opinion of com. Inercial men of the Colony, who have carefully considered the question and come to a decision, and to tell them they are mere pigmy champions compared with the past is an insult to the Chamber of Commerce explain it how you can. With regard to the remarks which have fallen from my hon, Chinese colleague, I would point out that this resolution has been on paper for a fortnight, which gave ample time for him to consult with The Chinese Chamber of Commerbe if
HON. ME. HOLYOAK-In dealing briefly with the debate which has just taken place, I would like in the first place to resent in the strongest possible manner the studied ansult to the Committee of
We the Chamber of Commerce. know exactly where we are. There is no longer any really big man in Hongkong. That covers a variety of firms whose in- terests cover millions and millions of dollars. And I am astounded that the Governor of the Colony should give utterance to such words. That being so, and that being the attitude which is being adopted towards the Chamber of Com- merce, I will proceed to deal with the more or less weak arguments of the Government side. With reference to the past. the giants of commerce, whose shades have passed beyond the grave. They never had to deal with such prob- lems as face us to-day in the world-wide war, a war which has been waged under conditions the like of which they never aaw or dreamed could be possible. And I think, in the light of these stadied, and I say so advisedly, these studied atroci- ties which have been perpetrated by the Germans in this war, and of which we have not yet reached the end, we are entitled to say that those are conditions which are new to the world and which must be faced anew. And I cannot believe that any man gathered around this table can face calmly the possibility of sitting, within two years from now, next to a German in any public build- ing or in connection with any joint interests in this Colony. It has been said that what is advocated is &
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he had desired to do so. Apparently he what it involves is in the best interests did not. I have also donsulted many of the Colony, so I leave it with you. Chinese in connection with this matter,
and
told not
many
H1B EXCELLENOY—I have one more did remark to make, and that is that I do not
think any unprejudiced person would consider that the words I used in refer- ence to the deceased William Keswick and the deceased Sir Thomas Jackson [Mr. HOLYOAK-And others] could, by any stretch of the imagination, he con- strued into an insult to the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce or its Committee. I will now put the motion.
The resolution was then put to the meeting, and the Governor declared that theNoes" had it.
Chinese merchants have ine frankly that they desire the German tråde to return to the Colony; they very much deprecated such trade and the system which had been adopted in the past. I was astounded to hear the words fall from the lips of the Attorney-General that there were some virtues in the credit .system. There is a virtue in the credit system, provided it is under control, but, speaking from experience, and from a deep knowledge of the subject, I say that the credit system practised by the Germans, which was not controlled, was positively immoral. The British banks who helped them to use that credit realise it to-day. I know perfectly well that there is a section of the Chinese com- munity which lived and had its being, so to speak, from the credit system which the Germans adopted in this Colony, and who have excluded for that reason the wider question embodied in my resolu- They remember that it was their living in the past. But there are wider questions then that for the Colony to deal with and therefore contained in my re- solution. That resolution has been care- fully considered by the Chamber of Com- merce, and we are of the opinion that
tion.
HON. MA. HOLYOAK asked for a divi- sion, and this resulted as follows:—
For the resolution: Hon. Holyoak, Hon. Mr. Pollock, Hon. Mr. Anton and Hon. Mr. Shellim.
Mr.
Against the resolution:-Hon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk and all the official members.
The resolution was then declared lost
by nine votes to four.
This was all the business. Council was adjourned sine die.
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