CO129-595-1 Anti-British feeling in China- memorandum by J V Braga 15-2-1946 - 15-8-1946 — Page 30

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From personal observation, I will say that the more

cultured and refined the Englishman the less was he guilty of

incivility to the Chinese, but, particularly as the Chinese have

so seldom shown signs of resentment, it was hard for him to

remain unaffected by the example of others.

Unfortunately, many of the British in Hong Kong have

had to draw their conclusions of the characteristics of the

Chinese from intercourse with their servants, and the more illi-

terate and the 'gold digger' classes. Kost Englishmen in corrier-

cial life have naturally no opportunity of social intercourse

with their Chinese subordinates. And intercourse with the families

of Chinese of the reserved, educated and cultured classes in their

homes is most difficult without suitable introduction.

In the enervating climate of Hong Kong, no European can

afford to be without a house servant. Too often the dishonesty

of the servant is the 'first rude awakening' to the British house-

wife, and a strong prejudice against the Chinese people commences

from this bad start. I have heard English women say, "I have

spent a lifetime in China, but I have not been able to find an

honest Chinese servant." Chinese themselves have told me that

trustworthy servants are indeed very hard to find. The psycho-

logy of the Chinese servant is something for which the European

housewife should be prepared before leaving for the Orient.

Faults in the social structure and educational system

of the people in England may have an indirect bearing on the

attitude of the British people in the Colonies towards the

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