Hongkong, Nov. 13.
Everyone who has lived for even a short time in a city in China has observed how Chinese, speaking different dialects because they come from different provinces. find a come mon ground when they talk to each other. in English. It is also an of-Ginaryoceurrence to find people whose natural language is French oF German talking with Chinese asso-clates, not in the language of either person concerned, but in English. Perhaps this was one condition which gave Basic English its headway. may even help explain why there is "Basic" English rather than "Basic" something else.
Hongkong Rotarians heard an inter= esting talk on this subject one Tues day not long ago, and much discussion has ensued since the initial tion of the purposes to be served. "Mr. 'AB, Reynolds introduced the subject into Hongkong's current controversies. He was not basing his arguments in behalf of a vocabulary of 850 words fon theory alone. Mr. Reynolds hea undertaken the teaching of Basle English to a class of boys at the St Louis Industrial School, so he has a practical laboratory fo testing his Contentions.
Made in China No doubt many outside Hongkong. remember that rather more than your ago there was an Empire Trade Fair held here. For a variety of reasons, chiefly the outgrowth of the Prevent' low. ebb of trade, no such fair was held this year, at least by representatives of foreign firms, But Chinese manufacturers and dealers had learned a lesson from their west ern associates, and this month they {Got up one of their own, Tt was no mere street parade with procession of banners announcing the names of cigarettes and bisculta, flashlights and rubber shoes, such ax have been seen in smaller cities than Hongkong.
This Second Annual Exhibit of Chinese Manufactured Goods was held re Company's premlsey "Although the picture presented by the displays, covering almost an entire floor was impressive enough, some latisties "connected with the hibition make it even more outstand-'There were 98. sections in all, factured goods attracted buyers and sellers alike. No less than 9 Chinese factories had a part in turning out iblage of articles, which came from Hongkong, Canton, Maca Shanghat, and Hangchow, Shanghai factories, it may be interesting to note, supply Hongkong shops with remarkably good lighting fixtures and lamps of all sorts. Read~ ing lamps, with smart new shades, table lamps, bed lamps, all. these compare favourably with the articles once turned out only by " western manufacturers. Leather goods from Shanghai also figure prominently tu displays here.
"The most popular times at the recent Exhibition were perfumes, bis-nits and confectionery, knitted wear Porcelain, towels and handkerchiefs, Faincoats, cigars and cigarettes, silk, cloth, flashlights and dry batteries, erated waters, rubber shoes, tea, rattan goods, organs and planes, lac= quer and sporting goods.
The foreign press has been most enthusiastic" in commending "the ublic-spirited merchants and-manufacturers who had the foresight and the optimism to arrange such a display in the face of existing conditions. Organizers of the Colony's other 'Trade Fair felt that they had indeed done their work well, in having the lesson put into practice so soon by Chinese business' men.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.