FUTURE OF HONGKONG
RITISH OPPORTUNITY IN THE
FAR EAST
POLICY TOWARDS THE CHINESE
From a Special Correspondent
ance.
Times
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A Link with China
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The article on this page from a Special Correspondent points out some of the opportunities for helping China which this country enjoys from its occupation of Hongkong. The ultimate destiny of this territory is not an immediate issue; by tacit agreement it has been left in abey-,
The maintenance of the existing position, though challenged in certain quarters, is at present convenient to China, which stands in need of the facilities for world trade that Hongkong can afford. The return of Hongkong to China is from the West. Britain is in a position to
Such an understanding is only possible not an immediate prospect. The Chinese give such assistance, and the very weakness of her position in the Far East is a guarantee
because the Chinese Government fully traders in the colony do not, by that it could be accepted by Nanking without appreciates the fact that Britain has neither and large, wish to be ruled by a Chinese sacrifice of China's political independence. the desire nor the capacity to interfere administration which has rendered large-of British motives in China will have little High-sounding declarations about the purity
in Chinese affairs by military force, and that she is ready to meet China on entirely scale trading almost impossible in both value if racial prejudice still reigns in Hong- equal terms for the arrangement of trans- Canton and Shanghai. At present they kong; if the Chinese with the same qualifica-
actions advantageous to both nations. have in some senses the best of both tions and the same responsibilities are paid on
Moreover to the Chinese people, with their worlds. Indeed, the 'existing status of an inferior basis to their European colleagues;
Confucian traditions of the if British are appointed to posts which local Hongkong has many advantages for the residents could fill; if the policy of the
middle course," Britain stands at present for a Kuomintang, and there is therefore "tacit Government appears mainly to be concerned way of life that is midway between the agreement to leave in abeyance the ques-with British trade. Hongkong is the shop- tion of Hongkong's future. But the British behaviour in that small setting can do much
window of Britain
competitive individualism of the American! in China, and right to stay will not remain unchallenged to make or mar British policy on the vaster
economy and the planned collectivism of indefinitely, and it is time that the British
the Soviet system, neither of which stage. Macao is commercially dead, and exactly coincides with Chinese concep- Government and people determined their Hongkong is the only trading centre in China policy towards China and Hongkong.
tions of the requirements of national proper which remains in European hands. It
¡rehabilitation. How does the record stand at present ? is a unique responsibility. As a matter of In the sphere of public works much has high priority the British Government should decide to make Hongkong a model of a pro- been done to benefit the colony. Magni-gressive, democratic community while they ficent reservoirs provide clean and are still in control. abundant water. Excellent roads, What then should be done? The first step superbly engineered, wind up the peak lies with the British Cabinet to determine the and round the island and the
New future status of Hongkong in consultation with, Territories." A fine hospital was built by up an administration that has the drive and the allies. Secondly, it is necessary to build the Government in 1937. But in the main imagination to carry out a progressive and little has been done to mitigate the abject creative policy. Hongkong has no Political Adviser to maintain contacts with Nanking and Canton, no experienced labour expert to assist the Chinese workers in forming trade unions and cooperatives.
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.Miles
20
Tongtaoha
Pingshan
oFukwing
Pokuta
Namta
Tamshui
HONGKONG:
(7606)
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A five-year or 10-year plan for the social and economic development of the colony should be worked out. Such a plan must offer pos- sible solutions for the immigration difficulty. There is the question of finance; the potential revenue of the colony has hitherto scarcely been tapped, owing to the opposition of the Chinese in pre-war days to introduction of income-tax. Large-scale reforms could be undertaken from local resources, but in the sphere of health, education, and public rela- Finally, the plan must consider ways in which tions outside aid would have to be given. social changes can be linked with an advance to self-government and the development of political education.
CULTURE AND TRADE
Poverty of the majority of the Chinese opulation. The poverty of South China even greater, as was shown after the apanese capitulation by the return of housands of Chinese to the colony. Government and mission schools have done a fine job on a limited scale, but no
Special emphasis should be placed in the education for the mass of Chinese is even and cultural relations with China. Hongkong plan on the question of education and technical contemplated. Public assistance is con-University has had a respectable reputation in fined to the issue of a ration of cheap rice the past, but it could not be described as first and the haphazard distribution of food or class, and since its buildings were largely parcels from voluntary organizations.chance to re-establish it on an impressive destroyed by the Japanese there is a unique Social insurance does not exist. Working-scale. A university in Hongkong, with out- class housing has hardly been attempted. standing facilities in both the humanities and It is perhaps natural that an over-n technical education, would become a great burdened Britain, concentrating on the power in China. To teach in it for a period of few years might well be regarded as a pleasure problems of socialist reconstruction at and a privilege for the best of Britain's younger home, on the menace of the international scholars.
museum, art gallery, or public library. The broadcasts from its radio transmitter can be heard only within a range of 30 miles. An invaluable opportunity for making known throughout China British affairs and stand- points is being thrown away. Finally, a good chance exists for a permanent trade exhibition on the lines of Britain Can Make It." could show with the artistry displayed at South Kensington that British design and industry can satisfy many of the needs of the Chinese
situation, on the freeing of India and the Cultural relations generally are equally ferment of the Middle East, should important. Hongkong has no theatre (other acknowledge this situation with a resigned than that equipped by Ensa), no concert hall, hopelessness. After all, Hongkong is far away; it is a tiny colony; there is no obvious disturbance. The answer is that the importance of Hongkong lies not in its trade, nor even in the welfare of its inhabitants, but in its relation to China. Diplomatically Britain has had no real policy in China since the surrender of Japan. This has no doubt been due to her complex problems elsewhere. So far this lack of policy has had certain advantages, but it is dangerous to drift too long.
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This
Britain took the lead in forcibly opening China to the impact of western civilization. It is surely her duty to do everything possible to ensure that the seeds which she planted will PRESTIGE STILL HIGH
bring benefits rather than destruction to the Chinese people. Trade with China has in the Britain still retains great trading interests in past brought great profits to British business. China. These may not endear her to the The policy here outlined may also bring great Communists, but her reputation for sound profits, direct and indirect, in the future, but commercial practice and her initiative in sur- profits should no longer be the chief aim. rendering the Treaty Ports before the war Britain is no longer in a position to achieve have enabled her to retain considerable | her ends by military and economic power. She prestige. This prestige would be enormously must rely primarily on moral and educational trengthened in China, as in Europe, if she influence. It is not too much to ask Britons were to adopt a constructive independent to consider carefully whether their presence policy. Nothing is more odious to the in Hongkong does not give them an un- hinese or to any Asiatic than the thought of paralleled opportunity to exercise this kind of coming the pawns of America or of Russia; influence on a large and beneficent scale. ell intelligent Asiatics agree that they Whatever the future of the colony may be,
technical and educational assistance many of the fruits would still remain.
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The domestic problems now confront- ing the Chinese Government call for an approach rather along the lines of an economic partner hip between the State and private enterprise, with a non-political civil service as the guardian of the public interest. The new Chinese constitution affords the opportunity of reforming the administration by admitting the progres- sive elements to political power; and, if this opportunity is grasped, the Com- munists will find that they cannot hold aloof without sacrificing their prospects of influencing the course of national development. Upon the policy adopted by the central Government in the immedi- ate future the unity of China depends; and it lies in the power of Britain to fur- nish an exemplar in Hongkong which will prove that liberal institutions are the best foundations for ordered progress.
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