The Hong Kong of the Present/Future
Being in Hong Kong I was reminded of Carlton Skinner, who was the first civilian governor of Guam during the time of the passage of the Organic Act.
Skinner is an interesting figure in Guam history, someone who was of critical importance, but who has received little to no attention from the island (save for a plaza that was named for him, that was demolished to make way for the Guam Museum).
He had been a progressive person for his time, helping to racially integrate units for the US Navy during World War II.
He sometimes joked that he must have gotten the job as Governor of Guam because it was an island filled with brown people and he had captained ships fill with black people.
He is known for helping set up the local government, but also facilitating the legalization of the illegal land-takings by the US military during the immediate postwar years.
While serving as governor, he famously gave a speech titled "Guam, The Hong Kong of the Future."
Although the island had been given limited self-government, there still existed a security clearance, where the US Navy could dictate who or what could enter or leave the island.
Carlton Skinner recognized so long as this was in place, Guam could never realize its full potential economically.
The speech touched on the notion that when Guam was able to finally be released from undo US federal or military interference, it could take advantage of its location and prosper like other ports in the world.
The security clearance of that era is gone, but other restrictions still persist.
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