Stuart William Greif

A Note About This Book

The peculiarities of Nineteenth Century British colonial and imperial policy precluded a large Chinese presence in Fiji which would have been generated largely by the use of Chinese as indentured labourers. "British" Indians were selected instead. Wholesale Australian prejudice prevented still others from emigrating on their steam. These factors in conjunction with a general lack of opportunity for quick
riches made Fiji a largely undesirable place of emigration until after the 1911 Revolution.

The heyday of Chinese emigration and settlement was in the "Between-the-Wars-Period". It did not last long enough to encourage the growth of deep Fijian roots. The Second World War and the immediate
post-war period ushered in for the Chinese a period of unprecedented financial success, but it was a time also marked by the development of the native Fijian into an independent person, desirous of self-rule and economic independence. Thus, the Chinese in Fiji, once indispensible to the economy of the village, found themselves unwanted and locked out of rural life. Their migrations to the growing cities caused regained self-confidence and renewed hopes of prosperity, but that decade, too, was marred by social and political changes beyond their control or influence. Independence deprived the Chinese of the promise of British Rule of Law and the guarantee of economic opportunity within a milieu of social harmony. Flight became the choice of most and of the best. Finding a suitable haven abroad, namely Canada or Australia, has kept the majority of the rump of the once great Chinese community in place. The recent downturn of the Fijian economy as a result of the oil crisis, the related decline in the tourist industry, and decline in the price of Fijian exports have further induced many to want to leave.

Within a decade few full-blooded Chinese under forty years of age will be resident in Fiji, given the continuation of Canada's policy welcoming in Chinese amongst other groups. But these Chinese "refugees" will, for some decades to come, be marked by experiences in Fiji and will look
back in sad regret.… (meer)