CO129-523-6 Criticism of Hong Kong Administration 29-1-1930 - 3-3-1930 — Page 16

16

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT (Part I).

(Destructive).

The Hong Kong Government's first and probably

greatest failing is that generally speaking it is entirely

out of sympathy with modern China, its outlook and the goal,

which it is determined to reach. Another failing, which is due to the fact of the local service being a watertight

compartment, but is none the less disastrous to British

interests, is the parochial outlook of the Government. correct this and to deal properly with future problems it is most necessary, that appointments from outside should be

of men of broad outlook and character able to overcome local

traditions and prejudices.

To

It is not because of the official majority in Council, which we must have, that conditions in Hong Kong

are as bad as they are but rather because the personnel

of the Government are so profoundly soaked in Colonial Office tradition, so strongly Conservative, that it prevents thom

fro moving with the times unless absolutely forced to do so.

For many years the Eurasian in Hong Kong, for some

unaccountable reason, has been much more proviant in locel

Government affairs than the Chinese themselves. The as 4

problem the Government are now seriously faced with. people have aot only become very rich, but have also to a considerable extent managed to ingratiate themeres with

the Chinese, so that it will be a difficult task for the

1