Because of their status as foreigners, "it was hard getting things done," Frederic Siu, now a grandfather, says. They needed a special license to do business, they had to pay taxes twice as high as others did in lucrative lines like running a hotel, and they couldn't own land or buildings or even buy a boat.
因為身分是外國人，「做事很難」，已當了祖父的蕭瑞光說，當時華人經商要有特別執照，經營煙、酒、旅館等利潤較高的行業，須繳比其他人高兩倍的稅；華人不能買地、買房子，甚至買船也不行。