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...

My military service with the British Commonwealth Division in Korea in 1953 was the true source of my life-long interest in East Asia, then known to me by the more magical-sounding name, ‘the Far East’. Six months of soldiering among the Korean hills north of the Imjin River and a short local leave spent in Seoul and at the coast had aroused my curiosity about a land and people of which hitherto I had known almost next to nothing. On the dust-smothered drive back to the capital, there had been much to see in passing through the market towns and...

Undoubtedly the most important and time-consuming part of my responsibilities as District Officer South was the work connected with the construction of the Shek Pik Reservoir and its ancillary projects. Since it was my main single responsibility and so much hung on a successful outcome, affairs at Shek Pik had usually to take priority over other matters.

Viewed in a long perspective, the Shek Pik negotiation exemplified the Hong Kong government’s desire to achieve its aims by negotiation. It did not always negotiate, but usually sought to do so in the New Territories, when taking back village homes and requiring...

At the end of 1962, I received notice of my posting to the Resettlement Department. After over five years in the Southern District, this came as no surprise: but I had expected to be sent to the Colonial Secretariat rather than to another department, as it was usual to alternate young ‘cadets’ in this way. Apparently, my new department was not among the most sought after appointments. On my way to work one morning after the transfer had been announced, one of my contemporaries stopped me near the Lower Peak Tram Station to commiserate. ‘We thought you’d done well in...

Upon my return from overseas leave in January 1966, I was given a very different posting, albeit it was to be temporary. The Chief Assistant Secretary for Chinese Affairs was to go on six months’ leave and I was to take his place until his return. This was a step up the ladder as the post carried the rank of an Administrative Officer Staff Grade ‘C’, equivalent to Assistant Head of Department. However, despite the grand title, I found there was a great gulf between me and my immediate and only head. The Secretary for Chinese Affairs was the third...

After my six months in the SCA, I was transferred to the Colonial Secretariat in the recently created post of Assistant Colonial Secretary (General). This was a middle ranking slot in the General Branch, where I supervized the work of three Assistant Secretaries, and vetted papers going to the head of the branch. Sometimes, I also found myself working directly to the Deputy Colonial Secretary, who exercised a general control but had no staff of his own.

The Secretariat was the hub of government. From and through it, the Colonial Secretary exercised administrative control over all government departments.² Its staff...

My recent book on Tsuen Wan took in my seven years as Town Manager and District Officer. My memory is replete with vignettes of the district at this very busy and difficult time. Many of my experiences, together with a historical overview, are recounted in its pages; but as there is still a good deal more to tell about a place and people that I came to know well in stirring times, a part of this memoir is also devoted to them.

IN THE TSUEN WAN OF 1975, the past had not yet completely disappeared amid the welter of change....

Not the least fascinating aspect of my long service in Tsuen Wan District was the involvement of the District Office with what may be called the popular religion. The senior staff were invited to attend the local celebrations for the major festivals of the lunar year, especially those arranged by the indigenous village communities. As the local official responsible for land and people, the District Officer’s presence was expected as a matter of course; and as we shall see, he was on some occasions considered to be an essential player. Through such friendly involvement in the lives of the people,...

Practically all my first twenty years had been spent with departments, more or less in direct contact with the public. This succession of outside ‘postings’ was rare for an Administrative Officer, as we could usually reckon on spending half our service in the Secretariat. My experiences during that time — not forgetting those occasions when, as narrated above, I had occasionally been on the receiving end of public displeasure — had provided insights into the nature of the ‘government-people’ relationship, how it had been at the outset of my career and how it evolved over time. In this chapter and the next,...

In late 1981, I was informed of my impending transfer to the Labour Department, as Deputy Commissioner. This pleased me, for my preference continued to be for departmental work. I felt sure that this would be a good appointment, and in the event, was not disappointed. Owing to the broad scope and variety of its work and responsibilities and its direct involvement with people, the Labour Department proved to be one of the most interesting and enjoyable postings of my career.

SEVEN WEEKS AFTER TAKING UP MY NEW POSITION, I gave a talk to the Rotary Club of the New...

In January 1985, I found myself back in the New Territories: though not quite literally, since the combined City and New Territories Administration’s headquarters was situated in the World Trade Centre Building in Canton Road, Kowloon. As the Regional Secretary, New Territories, I and my staff were responsible for directing and supervizing the seven District Offices located in different parts of the NT. We, in turn, reported to the Secretary for District Administration, whose office was located one floor above. A second Regional Secretary supervized the ten City District Offices in Hong Kong and Kowloon.

In common with our counterparts...

This second overview chapter on the government and people relationship, following on from Chapter 8, covers the last ten years of my service, prior to my retirement in November 1987. In general terms, this decade witnessed the transition from an all-powerful bureaucracy, concerned with how best to bring its services and present itself to the people and seeking their cooperation and support in the process to one which saw the need to surrender some of its direct authority and freedom of action to new institutions of its own creation, and through them to embark upon a different relationship with the...