CO129-489 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Sir Clementi - 1925 [8-12] — Page 465

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realising this, requested Mr. Chow Shou-son and me to make special efforts to get the theatres and tea-shops re-open, and thanks to the personal efforts of Mr. Li Yau-tsun, we succeeded having the latter resume business after four or five days' work. 99. The equivalent of the tea-house for the upper and the middle class is the theatre, women in particular being in this country as in others ardent devotees of the stage. I am seriously of the opinion that if some good theatrical troupes were performing in our theatres now many women who are remaining in Canton and Macao would return to Hongkong. One amusing sidelight on the unexpected results of this strike is afforded by the four- fold increase in the sale of Chinese records, due to the fact that the women have taken to the gramophone as a poor substitute for their favourite recreation.

100. Recommendation: It would therefore be well in future, on the approach of a strike, to persuade any good troupes which may happen to be performing in Hongkong, to remain here, even though we may have to resort to informal governmental inter- vention. It would also be advisable to do everything possible to keep the Chinese tea-houses open. In times of panic and inten- sity anything which will provide relaxation on accustomed lines. should be maintained, for they would have a great quieting influence on the minds of the public.

Necessity for Reliable Information from Canton in time of Strike.

101. Throughout the strike I have found our work considerably handicapped through the lack of adequate and reliable informa- tion from Canton and other places where the work of our enemies is active. In order to repair the deficiency to some extent, I arranged with Mr. Li Yau-tsun and Mr. Li Yik-mui to help me in obtaining news from Canton. These two gentlemen were able to get some news at the commencement, but even these were at best meagre and irregular. When communication by sea was interrupted, Mr. Li Yau-tsun's source of supply was stopped; and Mr. Li Yik-mui's agent had to send reports through Macao about once a week, and even this service came to an end after a fort- night or so.

102. Recommendation: This has proven to us the necessity for some arrangement whereby we can obtain reliable information from Canton at times such as this; and I am sure that with a little trouble we will be able to find suitable and trustworthy agents to undertake the work for us.

103. In regard to Shanghai, I have been able to establish regular communication, in an unofficial way, with Mr. C. Champkin, the manager of the Peninsular & Oriental Bank there, who for a time acted as the representative of the British Chamber of Commerce in negotiations for a settlement with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce at Shanghai. On two occasions Mr. Champkin telegraphed to me for my views on matters relating to his negotiation, and I am glad to say that my suggestions, sent with the knowledge of His Excellency the Governor, were acted upon in both cases. Though no great gain to either side could be said to have resulted from these exchanges of news and ideas, the arrangement was obviously desirable from more than one point of view.

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