races
to be included...?"
257
The learned barrister may have spoken eloquently but accord-ing to his critics not wisely.
GROPING TO CLOSE THE COMMUNICATION GAP
The Chinese deputation which called on the Acting Governor in 1883 to draw his attention to certain concerns of the Chinese community was attacked from several quarters.
Within the expatriate group in Hongkong there was a mistrust of the practice of Chinese having the direct ear of the Governor. It was felt that the previous Governor, Sir John Pope Hennessy, had manipulated such meetings to promote policies which favoured the Chinese to the disadvantage of the interests of the European population. They felt that the old established indirect approach through the Registrar General was the best way for the Govern-ment to relate to the Chinese. The Registrar General was the offi-cer responsible for matters affecting the Chinese. His modern counterpart is the Secretary for Home Affairs.
Not everyone in the foreign population looked with disfavour on the idea of Chinese deputations. The senior partner of Jardine, Matheson and Company, F.B. Johnson, expressed his support. He felt it was his duty, as he said, not merely as a member of the Legislative Council, but as a resident of the Colony to be present and "to show every possible sympathy he could with the move-ment this deputation had met to advocate."
In commenting on these remarks, the editor of one of the Hong-kong papers was not very kind to Johnson, describing him as "one of those eccentric and ostentatious gentlemen who will rather commit any absurdity than be debarred from a public indulgence in windy and meaningless platitudes." A species not unknown in Hongkong today.
The Chinese criminal power group was also not happy about the visit, especially as it was to present matters which touched upon their activities. They were prospering under the status quo
races
to be included...?"
257
The learned barrister may have spoken eloquently but accord- ing to his critics not wisely.
GROPING TO CLOSE THE COMMUNICATION GAP
The Chinese deputation which called on the Acting Governor in 1883 to draw his attention to certain concerns of the Chinese community was attacked from several quarters.
Within the expatriate group in Hongkong there was a mistrust of the practice of Chinese having the direct ear of the Governor. It was felt that the previous Governor, Sir John Pope Hennessy, had manipulated such meetings to promote policies which favoured the Chinese to the disadvantage of the interests of the European population. They felt that the old established indirect approach through the Registrar General was the best way for the Govern- ment to relate to the Chinese. The Registrar General was the offi- cer responsible for matters affecting the Chinese. His modern counterpart is the Secretary for Home Affairs.
Not everyone in the foreign population looked with disfavour on the idea of Chinese deputations. The senior partner of Jardine, Matheson and Company, F.B. Johnson, expressed his support. He felt it was his duty, as he said, not merely as a member of the Legislative Council, but as a resident of the Colony to be present and "to show every possible sympathy he could with the move- ment this deputation had met to advocate."
In commenting on these remarks, the editor of one of the Hong- kong papers was not very kind to Johnson, describing him as "one of those eccentric and ostentatious gentlemen who will rather commit any absurdity than be debarred from a public indulgence in windy and meaningless platitudes." A species not unknown in Hongkong today.
The Chinese criminal power group was also not happy about the visit, especially as it was to present matters which touched upon their activities. They were prospering under the status quo
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