187
The newspaper claimed the Chamber only represented specialised interest, and said it could not speak for the whole community. The sincerity of its claim to be interested in the welfare of the Chinese community was questioned.
Even if sincere, such interest was gratuitous: "The Chinese, it will be generally allowed, are quite able to support themselves without such extraneous aid.
The Chamber, according to the editor, was being devious. Their desire "to hold the umbrella and pose as guardians and protectors of the Chinese is only a peg upon which they hang an argument to cover up from sight their own particular game.”
This game presumably was to dictate Hongkong policy and to control its affairs for the interest of a few tai-pans: “the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce is an institution formed on the principles of conserving the selfish interests of the few, posing as being influenced by the most intense concern for the welfare of the masses, especially the Chinese..."
The chairman of the Chamber at this time was Mr. E. Mackintosh, the head of the firm of Butterfield and Swire in Hongkong. He was singled out for a sarcastic barb.
The editor felt that the chairman was getting beyond his depth in actively promoting a meeting to oppose a political decision presumably made after careful consideration at the highest levels of its advantages and disadvantages.
The journalist predicted that, "the energetic little chairman of the Chamber will exhibit himself in this matter in an attitude no more dignified than that of Ajax defying lightning.”
The editorial proceeded to refute the arguments being advanced against the appointment. It pooh-poohed the idea that a Chinese consul would act as a spy, asking: "What in the name of all that is great has he got to spy about here? Are we frightened of our own shadows? Or of our weaknesses being exposed? Or of the feebleness of our executives being discovered? And may we in-
187
The newspaper claimed the Chamber only represented special- ised interest, and said it could not speak for the whole community. The sincerity of its claim to be interested in the welfare of the Chinese community was questioned.
Even if sincere, such interest was gratuitous: "The Chinese, it will be generally allowed, are quite able to support themselves without such extraneous aid.
+
The Chamber, according to the editor, was being devious. Their desire "to hold the umbrella and pose as guardians and protectors of the Chinese is only a peg upon which they hang an argument to cover up from sight their own particular game.”
This game presumably was to dictate Hongkong policy and to control its affairs for the interest of a few tai-pans: “the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce is an institution formed on the principles of conserving the selfish interests of the few, posing as being influ- enced by the most intense concern for the welfare of the masses, especially the Chinese..."
The chairman of the Chamber at this time was Mr. E. Mackin- tosh, the head of the firm of Butterfield and Swire in Hongkong. He was singled out for a sarcastic barb.
The editor felt that the chairman was getting beyond his depth in actively promoting a meeting to oppose a political decision presumably made after careful consideration at the highest levels of its advantages and disadvantages.
The journalist predicted that, "the energetic little chairman of the Chamber will exhibit himself in this matter in an attitude no more dignified than that of Ajax defying lightning.”
The editorial proceeded to refute the arguments being ad- vanced against the appointment. It pooh-poohed the idea that a Chinese consul would act as a spy, asking: "What in the name of all that is great has he got to spy about here? Are we frightened of our own shadows? Or of our weaknesses being exposed? Or of the feebleness of our executives being discovered? And may we in-
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.