CO129-595-1 Anti-British feeling in China- memorandum by J V Braga 15-2-1946 - 15-8-1946 — Page 26

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families, complain bitterly of the treatment to which they have been

subjected. They may have been poor, but among them I have met real

gentlemen, poorly dressed perhaps, but, withal, clean in body and

mind. (I speak from firsthand knowledge I have visited the homes of quite a few Chinese of this class.) Acta so flagrantly contrary to principles of Chinese etiquette make their British superiors

appear to them 'uncultured boors'.

For men in X's position, to pander to the Chinese, or pan- per them (as some missionaries do), would be a serious mistake, and

to put their Chinese subordinates on a level with themselves would be extremely unwise. But, on the other hand, can not British people, placed in positions of authority over a number of Chinese, be made to understand clearly that there exists a difference between authority and tyranny, superiority and incivility, straightforwardness and rude-

ness, respect and fear? Does not power over other men impose certain

responsibilities?

Unfortunately, X's whole attitude of mind towards the Chinese was characteristic of very many British people in the Colony before the war. I have heard even 'old China hands' speak in the

same lanner as X and express the opinion that" the Chinese don't think

anything of it and, in the case of the few who do, what of it? Look

at the way the Chinese treat their own people." If this attitude of

mind, in its varying shades, expressed in the conduct of a large pro- portion of British people of Hong Kong towards the Chinese, is allowed to continue, can genuine friendly relations between the two peoples flourish? Will not Anglo-Chinese social functions for good-