ENG-1950 — Page 142

of works there. The Canton-Kowloon Railway was built, public health administration and antimalarial measures were prosecuted with determination, while Chinese and others were brought more closely into touch with the problems of government and social services. Sir Henry Blake identified himself with every aspect of the community's activities, which his successor, Sir Matthew Nathan, extended to Kowloon, where the road he laid down, called "Nathan's Folly" by local wags, commemorates his confidence in the develop- of Kowloon and the expanse of country contiguous with it.

The development of the Colony progressed after that at a phenomenal rate. Chinese merchants began to break away from their ancient ways, taking a more prominent part in the com- mercial and industrial activities of the Colony. They established shipping lines, built wharves and warehouses, erected department stores, set up dockyards and factories of every kind, built theatres and invested heavily in real estate. They have formed banks and insurance companies on Western lines and established great import and export houses. Hong Kong has provided the opportunity for many Chinese and members of other races to fit into the rapidly expanding world economy of the twentieth century. Freedom of the port and freedom of entrance and egress for all persons of Chinese race were permitted in accordance with a policy which ensured for the Colony the role of entrepot both for the trade and for the labour of China's southern provinces.

The Government has marched ahead of needs, and thought has been taken for every feature of the Colony's amenities. Hospitals and schools abound, centres where social services are maintained, efficient policing and fire-fighting services, waterworks, port facilities, are all part of the steady and natural growth of the city. A network of motor roads was cut into the hills; Chinese, European and American airlines meet in the Colony's airport; public utilities are given every encouragement; industries are granted facilities; trade is promoted and helped; everything is done to serve the community in the fairest and most equitable manner.

But the influence of Hong Kong has been more profound than this. It showed thinking Chinese than the old world was giving place to the new, and there was a stirring among Chinese patriots that brought profound results. One of the outcomes of this, the "Hundred Days Reform," might have saved China much misery and pain, for Kang Yiu-wei had been inspired and he succeeded in influencing the Emperor to attempt the introduction of much needed reforms in China. The failure of the attempt led to the tribulations which brought the Manchu dynasty to its end, but it had its roots deep in the minds of the Chinese. In Hong Kong the revolutionaries found liberty and sanctuary based on justice and freedom of speech, while the Chinese newspapers of Hong Kong provided them with a vehicle for reaching the Chinese masses.

In great part this has come about because of the Anglo-Chinese schools in the Colony. The Government has taken the lead in promoting these schools, but the names of public-spirited men like Sir Ellis Kadoorie and Sir Robert Ho Tung fill a prominent place in the efforts made to provide the youth of Hong Kong with the

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