CO129-591-20 Reports on current situation 18-10-1945 - 7-11-1945 — Page 27

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of the staff necessary to handle immigration, we have followed the negative policy of leaving the immigration restrictions on the statute book and maintaining the

entirely theoretical position that permits are still necessary for entry. Guerilla occupation of the country between Hong Kong and Canton, the fact that the railway schedule is greatly curtailed and in-coming trains almost totally reserved for Chinese troops tran- shipping in Hong Kong, and the shortage of shipping on the West River and in Macau have temporarily saved us. The population was estimated at about 600,000 in early September: it is nethe 750,000 mark, and is approaching one million, at which it is still manageable, provided reasonable supplies are available. There is yet no sign of the restoration of the facilities and conditions which will swamp us. Correspondence is attached to this report which reveals how near the bottom of the barrel we have come with immigration policy. The policy is deplorable but the results are not unsatisfactory.

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The problem of quislings and collaborators in the complicated social pattern of Hong Kong is one of extreme difficulty. A brief note attached to this report records the position. Between thirty and forty suspected collaborationists are under arrest pending completion of investigation. Few substantial citizens of the colony escaped contact with the occupying forces in one form or another: consequently few are free from the besmirchment of rumour and whisper. The result has been hideously embarrassing for an administration seeking to work in cooperation with, and to place maximum responsibility in the hands of, local citizens. Much of the business ofconducting local affairs has in times past been conducted through various committees of Chinese: the personnel of these committees, many of them experienced in public business, occupied at least nominal positions of res- ponsibility under the Japanese: it seems certain that a proportion of them behaved very badly, whether or not eventual evidence will justify proceedings under the terms of the directive.

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In these circumstances the administration has necessarily had to maintain an attitude of caution, though in fact Chinese are now occupying judicial and executive posts with responsibilities unknown before the war. The investigation branch of the police, with less than a fifth of its minimum staff requirements, is working very hard to widen the area of choice by scrutinis- ing the records of individuals whose talents qualify them for public office. It is for all concerned a distasteful and sometimes an emotionally distressing business.

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No debate has waxed hotter than that concerning Sir R. Kotewall, former member of Executive Council, and for many years the leading Chinese adviser to the Government of Hong Kong. As with so many other problems in this colony I am sure that we will know with complete certainty in 1947 what we ought to have done in 1945. Sir Robert Kotewall's conduct during enemy occupation has provoked in many quarters accusations and rebuttals of passionate intensity. In my view the only possible official course is to stick with equal passion to the principles of British justice and the letter of the quisling directive. The Kotewall case, which wi debated for years to come, is still under cons

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