The Hart of Darkness
By Chip Tsao | published Apr 08, 2010
Why should Hong Kong appoint Graham Sheffield, a white Anglo-Saxon protestant (WASP) man, as CEO of the West Kowloon cultural district, while New York’s Guggenheim Museum is unlikely to make someone as respectable as Dr. Lo King-man, former principal of Hong Kong’s Academy of Performing Arts, its curator? Call it positive racism, neo-colonialism, Western imperialistic hegemony of human resourcing, or whatever academic jargon you like, but before any debate, let’s brush up on our modern Chinese history.
Sir Robert Hart, a British consular official, became second Inspector General of China’s Imperial Maritime Customs Service based in Shanghai in 1858. His main duties included collecting customs duties for the Chinese government, thus making sure every cent of tariff revenue would flow into the pocket of the Qing Empire rather than being embezzled by any Chinese officials.
Hart was held with high regard by Prince Gong, the brother-in-law of the Empress Dowager, who knew only too well about the custom of widespread and deep-rooted corruption among the Chinese mandarins. He believed that only an English gentleman could remain disinterested and emotionless when facing the temptation of money, just as a Chinese eunuch did when facing a naked woman. To make his employer happy and ensure full efficiency, Hart adopted an advanced employment policy. He insisted on recruiting only British and Europeans, including the French, as staff on managerial levels, with the exception of a young Eurasian, Robert Ho-tung, who served as a clerk.
Hart never let down his Chinese master. Apart from sorting out the money professionally, he also helped the Chinese set up post offices in major cities and even conciliated between Li Hung-chang, the governor of Jiangsu, and the famous Charles Gordon (known in China as the “Chinese Flash Gordon”). Gordon came to China as a mercenary to help the Chinese government put down the notorious and bloody Taiping rebellion. He was irritated by Li’s order to behead eight captured Taiping generals who had surrendered. Gordon thought that was a barbaric act, and threatened to turn his gun against Li. Hart moved in swiftly to prevent a mutiny.
For the Chinese government, the employment of the versatile Hart proved to be good value for money. We as Chinese are sentimentally indebted to this man, one of the founding fathers of rule of law in the Far East. Thanks should also go to Prince Gong, whose vision still holds out through the centuries: a British gweilo in charge of anything related to public funding means less headache. As Hongkongers, we have been luckier because China lost the Opium War to Britain, which resulted in several coastal cities, including Shanghai, opening up to Western trade. That’s how Hart was brought to China in the first place. If only all of Hong Kong’s territories could be managed as a Shanghai Customs Service or a West Kowloon Cultural District, and left to a WASP governor, there would be no headaches for Beijing.
Why should Hong Kong appoint Graham Sheffield, a white Anglo-Saxon protestant (WASP) man, as CEO of the West Kowloon cultural district, while New York’s Guggenheim Museum is unlikely to make someone as respectable as Dr. Lo King-man, former principal of Hong Kong’s Academy of Performing Arts, its curator? Call it positive racism, neo-colonialism, Western imperialistic hegemony of human resourcing, or whatever academic jargon you like, but before any debate, let’s brush up on our modern Chinese history.
Sir Robert Hart, a British consular official, became second Inspector General of China’s Imperial Maritime Customs Service based in Shanghai in 1858. His main duties included collecting customs duties for the Chinese government, thus making sure every cent of tariff revenue would flow into the pocket of the Qing Empire rather than being embezzled by any Chinese officials.
Hart was held with high regard by Prince Gong, the brother-in-law of the Empress Dowager, who knew only too well about the custom of widespread and deep-rooted corruption among the Chinese mandarins. He believed that only an English gentleman could remain disinterested and emotionless when facing the temptation of money, just as a Chinese eunuch did when facing a naked woman. To make his employer happy and ensure full efficiency, Hart adopted an advanced employment policy. He insisted on recruiting only British and Europeans, including the French, as staff on managerial levels, with the exception of a young Eurasian, Robert Ho-tung, who served as a clerk.
Hart never let down his Chinese master. Apart from sorting out the money professionally, he also helped the Chinese set up post offices in major cities and even conciliated between Li Hung-chang, the governor of Jiangsu, and the famous Charles Gordon (known in China as the “Chinese Flash Gordon”). Gordon came to China as a mercenary to help the Chinese government put down the notorious and bloody Taiping rebellion. He was irritated by Li’s order to behead eight captured Taiping generals who had surrendered. Gordon thought that was a barbaric act, and threatened to turn his gun against Li. Hart moved in swiftly to prevent a mutiny.
For the Chinese government, the employment of the versatile Hart proved to be good value for money. We as Chinese are sentimentally indebted to this man, one of the founding fathers of rule of law in the Far East. Thanks should also go to Prince Gong, whose vision still holds out through the centuries: a British gweilo in charge of anything related to public funding means less headache. As Hongkongers, we have been luckier because China lost the Opium War to Britain, which resulted in several coastal cities, including Shanghai, opening up to Western trade. That’s how Hart was brought to China in the first place. If only all of Hong Kong’s territories could be managed as a Shanghai Customs Service or a West Kowloon Cultural District, and left to a WASP governor, there would be no headaches for Beijing.
Labels: Politically Incorrect, 陶傑
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