ENG-1946 — Page 19

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on all important questions concerned with Labour and it may be said that Hong Kong has had no more than its fair share of strikes during the year under review.

Elections in the New Territories.

The first elections of public officials ever held in the Colony took place during 1946 in the New Territories under informal arrangements made by the District Officer. The New Territories comprise an area of 347 square miles of mainland and islands, the greater part being barren hillside unsuitable for cultivation; the 170,000 people who live in this area are mostly farmers, small traders and fisherfolk whose general welfare and supervision is the responsibility of the District Officer. To assist him in his duties and to advise him on local matters each villager or group of villagers had before the war its village elder or elders. There was no clearly defined method of making these appointments, which were considered unimportant and aroused no great interest amongst the people. The District Officer might appoint a local digni- tary in view of his past service to Government but the elders were often self-appointed persons who happened to be the most substantial or vociferous individuals of their village or district. Age, which is revered in China, counted for a good deal. There was also a Senior Advisory Council; the members of this Council were the most prominent of the village elders and its numbers were maintained by the members of the Council themselves co-opting other elders as and when they thought fit. During the Japanese occupation some of the elders died and though many declined to have dealings with the invaders some were prepared to collaborate with the Japanese in order to obtain privileges and monopolies. With the return of British administration, it was discovered that one of the results of war had been to create a schism between the older men and the younger men. In those villages where the old elders tried to resume control, they were soon faced with opposition if they attempted to disregard the opinions of the younger men, and the younger men, where they had taken control, were intolerant of the advice given by the older men. The only method of choosing a council of elders who could be regarded as representative and on whose authority Govern- ment could rely, was by popular election in each district. This method of choosing elders, although quite new to the people, appealed to them and the elections held during 1946 were successful, not only as a method of choosing those persons to manage affairs who could command most popular support, but in creating increased interest in public affairs and appre- ciation of communal interests. The method of deciding which persons should vote had to be simple and so devised as to exclude any non-local influence which might seek to exploit the villagers. To qualify for a Government rice ration in the New Territories it is necessary to prove seven years' residence