CO129-491 - Public Offices - 1925 — Page 404

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wrest from our Empire that which is no longer China's, but ours for all time that it is ruled by men travelled and worldly wise; by men who possess

foresight and knowledge of other men and of affair391

generally. Not by men of average intelligence or by those who have stagnated in the Colony for years who neither know nor care what the term British Empire really signifies above all the Governor of any Crown Colony should be a well bred man the veneer of the Varsities does not suffice in any Eastern place and his morals and general character should be surely "Sans peur et sans reproche" - otherwise how can be hope to gain the respect of all communities.

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Six years ago a new Governor arrived apparently his period of office has been one of outward prosperity for the Colony. Certainly trade seems to have developed enormously - certainly there has been a great inrush of wealthy Chinese into the Colony whether that is for its ultimate good remains to be seen.

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Six years is a sufficiently long period for the same man to govern a Colony Fresh blood and ideas are required and the Secretary of State for the Colonies is wise not to have acceded to the request of a few Unofficial Members of Council that the present Governor might receive an extension of office. This request being chiefly due to the curious mentality of some of the residents of Hongkong who for some reason or other dislike the idea of any new comers.- a mentality which imbues the old Officials too for they as much as anyone else resent new comers in any of the Government Departments. Bankers and big business men fortunately do not possess this curious outlook as they move from place to place in the

East