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but some of these chaps would have you fawning all over the Chinese. The Chinese are like any other people, and within limits they will like us only insofar as we are useful - and that can be very, very useful indeed. The sooner we realise this and work at the job the better. The lighter forms of the gesture end protestation of friendship are a prewar luxury. The 1941 technique no longer serves.
7.
The pace of the work here continues killing. Today, at one fell swoop I have decided the scope and principles of a Rent Restriction Proclamation, the scope and principles of a Vegetable Marketing Scheme similar to Herklots's Fishing Scheme the necessity for recommending the creation of a Port Director (subject to London and Coleman's approval), met the Governor of Macao, discussed principles with the Chinese Banking Commissioner for Kwangtung, Kwangsi and Fukien, and heaven knows what else besides. I will not pretend that I am not enjoying myself, but I am very tired and I hope relief comes soon. I know that everything possible is being done from the London end, but we are still having to do the best we can with less than 20% of our establishment. The mistakes we have committed will be obvious enough in due course: I need not describe them to you just now, and in any case I am not very sure what they are.
8.
Relations with the Services are excellent. In more than the conventional sense the Colony has been lucky in Admiral Harcourt and General Festing. I have crossed swords heavily with the A.0.C. on air policy, and this is the only issue in sight upon which I may have to use my right of direct communication with the Colonial Office, if pushed to it. A.0.C's tough policy of bargaining and reciprocity will leave Hong Kong with an empty airport.
9.
The
Follows has arrived and will be a great help, but it will take him a couple of months at least to find his feet. What one likes about him at first sight is that he is completely undismayed by the amazing tangle with which he is faced.
We
10.
On the whole I think things go not too badly. have taken large chances and used much bluff on inmigration (see attached), price control and the like. I have backed Herklots to the limit on the fish business and though it is early days yet it looks as if the gamble had come off. If there are any honours or decorations going for work in the Colony by released internees, I hope Herklots and Butters will be at the top of the list. A full report of the fish scheme is on its way home.
11.
I have had to overwork my meagre staff most cruelly. The mainstays are of course Thomson, Hazlerigg (who has had to give full time to the potentially explosive repatriation business), Strickland (a god-send!) and Sɛnsom who continues in some fashion of his own to make bricks without straw. Delamaine has been invaluable also would you thank Dunn for putting us in the way of getting him?
S
Yours,
(sgd.) D.M. MacDougall.
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