39
should only be introduced into Hong Kong in reasonable conformity with those enforced in neighbouring countries and the introduction of legislation for the betterment of working conditions should be cautious and not over ambitious lost it defeat itself."
22.
What it would seen the Commission had in mind was that any rapid advance in living standards or social security enforced by law may well leave the Colony with legislation but no industry and little commerco. This is merely another way of emphasizing that "proverty anywhere is a menace to prosperity everywhere" but particular- ly to neighbouring countries.
23.
The Commission's conclusions were no doubt valid and just- ified in 1935, but conditions have changed greatly during the past 15 years. It would not be true today to say that the basis of the Colony's commercial existence is the handling of the trade of China. Hong Kong has now become an important industrial centre and it is not to China that the bulk of its products is exported. In addition its commercial dealings are by no means confined to China.
24
There has been a saying among the Chinese in Southern China for many years now to the effect that if one works in Canton one lives on congec but if one works in Hong Kong one lives on pork. I feel, and I think it is the feeling of the Government and of enlightened employers that that position must be maintained at all costs even if the social progress made to achieve that objective tends to retard still further the cbb and flow of workers between Hong Kong and China.
25.
For very many years now China has acted as a sponge absorb- ing the Colony's surplus unemployed population when conditions have been difficult in Hong Kong and releasing them again when things im- proved and work became available.
26.
In more recent times this cbb and flow has been affected by conditions in China. Wer and strife in Kwangtung and the Communist occupation of Shanghai and later the whole of the Chinese mainland greatly increased immigration. In addition the willingness of workers to return to China has been appreciably reduced as a result of the introduction of conscription by the People's Government of China. the present moment the unemployed worker of military age is said to be extremely reluctant to go back to China because of the fear that he will be enrolled in the rmy and possibly sent to Korea.
uit
27.
The former free ebb and flow of population has been most useful to the business community and has eased the problems of Government. There has been no need to strive for social progress. The view is widely held that all the Chinese worker wants is to live in a place where law and order is enforced and where he is able to earn sufficient to maintain himself and his family in reasonable comfort. The Chinese worker is mid to be a realist who does not, as a general rule, regard social progress as being identical with an increase in income.
28.
It is no doubt true that what the average Chinese worker wants is a free and secure life on a full stomach and in normal times
A^
squar
he has been able to get this in Hong Kong. He is certainly more interestine als than in square feet of living space. As an individual, however, he is readily attracted by prospects of still further impro- vement in his conditions of life and he would be more than surprised if general living or working conditions in Hong Kong became inferior, in any respect, to those in China.
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