CO129-493 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [6-8] — Page 84

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The dangers to the Executive Council itself which

we had in mind in 11031 have been correctly reproduced

by Sir C. Clementi. He feels, however, that the

advantages outweigh the disadvantages. None the lege

he le compelled to admit that by reason of the

Chinese character which "displays a different attitude

to such matters" he is recommending a political gamble

the attractions of which are not increased by innuendo s

against the conduct of European unofficials in the past.

As to our two main questions on 11031, Sir C.Clément

who only recently endorsed Sir E.Stubbs' view that "the

vast majority of the Chinese take no interest in such

matters", now says that "they are taking a great and

increasing interest in membership of public bodies and

in political matters generally". To have elicited this

last assurance has amply justified our enquiries; but the

inconsistency is hardly calculated to allay our doubts.

The fact that sooner or later a demand will arise

for Chinese representation on the Executive Council is

hardly disputable. But what we want to know is "by how

many years are we forestalling such a demand ? This

question the Governor does not touch on. Moreover, he

seems to have missed the point of our question about

Canton. No matter whether Chow has supported Hongkong

or not, Canton will surelybe able to claim, and to claim

with truth, that had it not been for the boycott this

appointment would not have been made. To this extent,

therefore, the appointment may be taken as a vindication

conceded befor di negotiatious of Canton's championship of Chinese' aspirations and/may

well lead to, instead of staving off, a recrudescence

of the Cantoresdemand for Chinese electoral representation

on the Legislative Council a demand which is at present

losing force in the face of Hong Kong's apparent

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A

indifference

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