Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked what number of officers in the Civil Service and in the police there are in Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, and the Federated Malay States, respectively; how many of these officers in each Colony would have been excluded if the present regulations, requiring pure European descent on both sides, had been in force when they joined; whether these officers have rendered good service to the State and have been promoted in due course; and what number of applicants for examination or successful candidates after the examination have been rejected on the ground that they were not of pure European descent?
Mr. HARCOURTThe number of appointments is approximately as follows: In the united service of the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States, Civil Servants, 110; Police, 27. In Hong Kong: Civil Servants, 21; Police, 4. So far as I can ascertain the number of officers in the Service who entered by competitive examination, and would have been excluded by the regulation, which has now been in force for a number of years, requiring proof of European descent, is six in the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States, and none in Hong Kong. I cannot enter into a discussion of the value of the services of individual officers. I am unable to answer the last part of my hon. Friend's question. Applications from unqualified candidates do not come before me as a rule, being disposed of either by the Civil Service Commissioners in the case of the Civil Service or by the India Office in the case of the Police, and it is, of course, impossible for candidates to be successful in an examination for which they are not eligible to compete.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the special difficulties arising from racial conditions, in view of which the appointments in the Civil and Police services of Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, and the Federated Malay States have, contrary to the Queen's Proclamation of 1858 and King Edward's Proclamation on his Coronation, been restricted to British subjects of pure European descent on both sides; and whether he will consider the possibility of overcoming such difficulties as have arisen by some measure, such as selecting officers for posts in which their lineage is immaterial, rather than by excluding from the public service large classes of His Majesty's subjects?
Mr. HARCOURTI am unable to share my hon. Friend's view that the regulation, which, as I stated on 13th November in reply to a question from the hon. Member for North-East Cork, has been in force for a number of years, is contrary to the proclamations to which he refers. The reason for the regulation is that Malays and Chinese dislike and resent officers of alien origin being placed in authority over them unless those officers are of European descent. I should be ready to consider the question of British-born Chinese or Malays being admitted to the Cadet Service if there were any chance of such candidates being successful in the competitive examination and if there were a local demand for the concession, which at present does not exist. It would not be possible to adopt the proposal made in the last part of my hon. Friend's question, as it is essential that officers of the Civil and Police services should be available for any duties within the scope of those services.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTAre the special difficulties arising from racial conditions in these Colonies any more difficult than the conditions prevailing in India, where the mixture of races is very great; and is there any reason why the Colonial Office should be more reactionary in this matter than the Indian Government?
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will ascertain what restrictions, if any, based on racial considerations, are im- 392 posed on the admission of candidates for the public service in the French and Dutch colonies in the East?
Mr. HARCOURTI do not think that any useful purpose would be served by this information; but my hon. Friend can, of course, apply for it to the Foreign Office.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that very great and serious offence is given to numerous British subjects and to Members of this House by these regulations; in view of that, will he reconsider the attitude of the Colonial Office to the matter?
Mr. HARCOURTThe regulations have been in force for many years and therefore if there was an offence it was an old one.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTIs the right hon. Gentleman, with his knowledge of the Colonial Office, aware that some of these officials, who are not of European descent, have been appointed so recently as 1903?
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTDid the right hon. Gentleman in the course of his studies not acquire some knowledge of Colonial affairs before he was appointed?
Mr. HARCOURTYes, Sir; but it does not extend to this particular point. I shall probably ask my hon. Friend to assist me in my further studies.