British Administration (Chinese-speaking Officials)

HC Deb 23 April 1952 vol 499 c396

38. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of the British Administration in Malaya can speak Chinese.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I have not the up-to-date figures, but I will write to the hon. Member when the approximate number can be checked.

Mr. Rankin

Would the Minister agree that the psychological root of much of our trouble in Malaya is due to the fact that we can make no real contact with the great masses of Chinese because of ignorance of their language? Is he prepared to make use of the offer, which has come through the United Nations, of American-Chinese, who are versed, not merely in Mandarin and Cantonese, but in the multitudes of dialects commonly spoken in China?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We have taken very energetic steps to that end, and we shall be delighted to take up the suggestion of the hon. Gentleman, but I hope he will then do his best to persuade his colleagues that this is no further sign of sinister American intervention in the British Commonwealth.