CO129-483 - Others & Individuals - 1923 — Page 223

SIR R.E. STUBES.

(Memorandum by the Far Eastern Department.)

217

There has always been a tendency on the part

of Governors of Hong Kong to attempt too much interference

in the affairs of China and our interests there. This

was especially the case in Sir F. Lugard's time. The

policy of the Eastern Department here as well as that of

the Foreign Office has been to discourage rather strictly

any such attempt. As a member of the Eastern Department

for 13 years, Sir R. Stubbe was well aware of and co-

operated in this policy.

At the same time it must be borne in mind that

Hong Kong may be regarded as really the financial and

commercial headquarters of the neighbouring province of

Kwangtung and vitally interested therefore in the

restoration of order and prosperity there. At present

especially Hong Kong is crowded with important and rich

refugees from S. China, and in the interests both British

and Chinege of the Hong Kong community the Governor would

be more or less than human if he did not put forward for

consideration by His Majesty's Government any proposals

that he may consider useful for improving the present

appalling position. The consideration of such proposals

may be a waste of time, but can have no substantial evil

results

:

£

?