177
ony had every reason to be satisfied with the arrangements of 1886.
Basking in the success of the arrangement, the editor does not mention the dire forecasts his paper had made in former years concerning the evil effects which would result if Hongkong allowed itself to be used in any way as a collecting point for Chinese revenue.
Now with the customs question on a satisfactory basis, the editor asked what reason remained for a consul:
"Is it to give protection and render assistance to the Chinese subjects in this Colony? If so, alas for the Chinese subjects! The assistance the consul will give them will simply be in ascertaining the extent to which they can be squeezed, and if they do not pay up pleasantly, the screw will be turned on through their families on the mainland. No more serious blow could well be struck at the well-being of the Chinese population than the establishment of a Chinese Consulate in the Colony, and the damage to British prestige would be disastrous."
There had been little change in attitudes over the years - the same arguments, the same fears, the same distrust.
It was claimed that the British possession of Hongkong did not impress the average Chinese. According to the editor, the “ignorant masses" still believed Europeans were allowed to be in Hongkong only through the sufferance of the Emperor. This misconception would only be reinforced “with the establishment of a Chinese Yamen in the Colony, flaunting the dragon flag."
It was believed that the view of the “ignorant masses” was encouraged by Chinese officials.
The Colonial Office, in commenting on the question of a consul for Hongkong, said: "The one idea prevalent among the Chinese governing class is to represent to their fellow countrymen that we hold Hongkong as vassals of the Emperor of China and the advent of a consul would be used in this sense and so understood by the
177
ony had every reason to be satisfied with the arrangements of 1886."
Basking in the success of the arrangement, the editor does not mention the dire forecasts his paper had made in former years concerning the evil effects which would result if Hongkong al- lowed itself to be used in any way as a collecting point for Chinese
revenue.
Now with the customs question on a satisfactory basis, the editor asked what reason remained for a consul:
"Is it to give protection and render assistance to the Chinese subjects in this Colony? If so, alas for the Chinese subjects! The assistance the consul will give them will simply be in ascertaining the extent to which they can be squeezed, and if they do not pay up pleasantly, the screw will be turned on through their families on the mainland. No more serious blow could well be struck at the well-being of the Chinese population than the establishment of a Chinese Consulate in the Colony, and the damage to British pres- tige would be disastrous."
There had been little change in attitudes over the years the same arguments, the same fears, the same distrust.
It was claimed that the British possession of Hongkong did not impress the average Chinese. According to the editor, the “igno- rant masses" still believed Europeans were allowed to be in Hong- kong only through the sufferance of the Emperor. This misconcep- tion would only be reinforced “with the establishment of a Chinese Yamen in the Colony, flaunting the dragon flag."
It was believed that the view of the “ignorant masses” was encouraged by Chinese officials.
The Colonial Office, in commenting on the question of a consul for Hongkong, said: "The one idea prevalent among the Chinese governing class is to represent to their fellow countrymen that we hold Hongkong as vassals of the Emperor of China and the advent of a consul would be used in this sense and so understood by the
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