CO129-569-15 A.W. Brewin- queries on Brewin Charity and compensation for Chinese workmen 6-2-1938 - 6-2-1938 — Page 15

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I said, last year, that I was not fond of the words

"Brewin Charity".

This year I positively hate them.

When

I approached your department, I was compelled to mention the

Charity; it would have been affectation not to do so, and I

felt it was some excuse for my interference. I founded it

in the hope that it would prove the first step in establishing

a far-reaching system of Workmen's Compensation; it seems

likely now to prove nothing but a hindrance.

I infer from the nature of the Hongkong Government's

reply that the Governor takes little, if any, personal interest

in the matter, and that my recommendations are not held to

have any urgency. On this point I should be grateful for

your opinion, and also on a second point as to what pressure,

if any, the Colonial Office is prepared to bring to bear on

Hongkong; I can understand that in many cases the Office will

be unwilling to over-rule local opinion. I appreciated very

highly the kindness and consideration with which you treated

my interference, but I did not gather that you were in any way

shocked by the past neglect of disabled workmen by the Hongkong

Government, or that you were conscious that there was a gap in

the administration which ought to be filled without delay, and

I am anxious to know whether I can expect from the Colonial