CO129-489 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Sir Clementi - 1925 [8-12] — Page 467

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107. At the suggestion of the Hon. Mr. P. H. Holyoak, repre- sentatives of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce and those of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce met on two occasions to exchange ideas and information; and these meetings. resulted in a much better understanding on both sides.

Work of co-ordinating Chinese activities.

108. For the benefit of anyone who may have to undertake the task on a future occasion, I will describe in some detail the work of co-ordinating Chinese activities. This work was conceded to me by Mr. Chow Shou-son on account of his advanced age. He did not, however, spare himself in any other way, and freely gave me the benefit of his experience and wisdom on all occasions. The Chinese activities were co-ordinated by a daily meeting (including Sundays and holidays during the first eight weeks) in my office at about 10 a.m. after the conference above referred to, when the previous day's work was reported to me by the heads of the various sections, and my instructions were given to them and to other fellow workers, who never questioned them but carried them out to the last detail. This part of the work was usually finished by 12 noon, and thereafter attention was given to fresh problems which had arisen during the morning's confer- ence, and to receiving incessant streams of visitors. In the even- ing I kept open house for any who wished to see me, but as these people very often particularly wanted to see nobody else, it was necessary to keep two, and sometimes three, separate rooms for interviews and to make use of the two front doors with which my house is fortunately provided. It was in some of these interviews that we received valuable information from members of the guilds about the enemy's movements or intentions; and it was in some of these interviews that Mr. Chow Shou-son (when- ever I needed his assistance) showed admirable diplomatic skill and address. All this machinery took four days to get into full working order; and if my suggestions for a permanent organisa- tion of volunteer workers are carried out, it could be mobilised in one day. There was no breakdown in the arrangements, but the interviewing of visitors occupied much time, and proved a very great strain; and often I felt the lack of someone to relieve me of part of this confidential work of interviewing the less important visitors, and of writing and answering letters. The one man to whom I could have safely assigned this work-Mr. Wong Tak-kwong-was too valuable to be spared from his numerous other duties.

109. During the first few days of the trouble, the Chinese here. were bewildered, and did not know what to think. This confused state of mind was not so much definitely hostile as uncertain and perplexed, but it could easily have turned into an anti- British. feeling if definite leadership had not been provided. The Chinese are reasonable and shrewd; they are perfectly able to judge a case for themselves, if it is properly presented to them. But they require the case to be presented by someone in whom they have. confidence; and once they have given their confidence to the leader they will follow him unquestioningly. The first step, therefore was to find people who could put the case to their fellow