Friends and Teachers: Hong Kong and Its People 1953-87

Foreword

Foreword Two main themes may be discerned in this account by James Hayes of Hong Kong in the second half of this century: an autobiographical story of an unusual career and a description of the changes - increasingly rapid as the end of the century approaches - in the environment and lifestyle of most people in Hong Kong. James and I were colleagues in the Hong Kong 'Cadet ServIce' for well on thirty-two years. I thus have a great advantage in reading this book of being able fully to appreciate his description of personalities, places and incidents. They illuminate the pace of change and the pressures imposed on all who were and are engaged in the work and progress of Hong Kong. For those who visit the New Territories by car today, the impression is of a series of concentrated urban conglomerates: the New Towns of Shatin, Taipo, Yuen Long, Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan-Kwai Chung. There is little of the traditional agricultural activity or village life to be seen. In the early fifties, it was something of an adventure for the VIsitor to drive along the same route. The present New Town locations were small VIllage communities , typical South China in layout and activity. In Tsuen Wan, hawkers used the main road as their market place, and very slow progress had to be accepted by motorists using this stretch of road as the hawkers moved their stalls and wares back for the car; it having passed, they closed in behind resuming their locations, like a returning tide - all WIth much Cantonese noise and humour. This book closely covers the circumstances of change. When James Hayes arrived in Hong Kong, the District Officers had, in addition to their other administrative duties, that of being Special Magistrates. Like him, they heard cases involving rural disputes about land, cattle and ownership. The ending of this judicial function in 1961 - it was transferred to the regular Courts - marked the beginning of changes in the role of the District Officer, the progress of which is fully and sensitively mcluded m this story. The urbanization of the New Territories, which began with Tsuen Wan vlil Preface and Acknowledgements (and fully described in the author's 1993 book Tsuen Wan, Growth of a New Town and Its People) was the result not only of Hong Kong's need to find physical locations for industry and commerce, but also to find relief for the burden of housing on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. James's story covers this - and what an achievement it has been! In some cases the Housing Authority moved in advance of the industriahsts and built estates in the New Territories. Industry then followed, with labour on the doorstep. With this urbanization of the New Territories, the District Officer's traditional role had to change, a crisis being the handmg over of land administratIon in 1982. This function of land administration was the core of the District Officer's authority. Its transfer to central government radically altered his role and status. These circumstances and their difficulties are described clearly and poignantly in James's account. Hong Kong's return to China in mid-1997 will mark the virtual end of Great Britam's colonial progress. The general conventton, certainly since the end of the last war, has been to decry British colonialism. But Britain's colonial record is one of which it can be very proud; not least of that record in Hong Kong -- the Administration's enabling of steadIly improving housing , medical, educational and social services, all provided by a burgeoning industrial and commercial economy. This could not have been achieved without the remarkable work and drive of Hong Kong dtizens cooperating with the wise direction of its leadership. My wife and I first met James Hayes in 1956 at a lunch of welcome given by a colleague somewhat senior to us and rather formidable. So we were on our best behaviour. Our first impression of Jame:., was ofhis manifest keenness and delight at being in Hong Kong. He soon branched out on to those paths of interest which are covered in this book. I shall always remember him proudly leading his platoon of the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) at an annual Governor's Parade. He had embarked on his Chinese studies with great enthusiasm and would soon start his work with the Royal Asiatic Society. All these enthusiasms punctuate his life and work. They are well set out in this...