German Missions, Hong Kong Colonial Government, and the First World, War

Abstract

This work-in-progress presentation will look into the implementation of a British policy targeting at German missionary societies in Hong Kong during and after the First World War. It will review the work of German missions in the colony and their relationship with the colonial government and with local British missions. It then studies the actions undertaken by different colonial administrators (Sir Francis Henry May, Sir Claud Severn and Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs) – with the help of local British missions - in implementing the policy. It was argued that properties portfolio possessed by the German missions was a key barrier delaying the return of German missions to Hong Kong.