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him if he would let me know what the revenue and
expenditure of the Canton Province is at present.
To this request I have as yet received no reply.
5. I learn from a native source that Mr.
Liang Shih-yi's visit was for the purely political
object of securing the support of the Canton Govern-
-ment end of the Nationalist party in the Province
for the election of Yuan Shih-kei as President of
the Republic and that Mr.Liang hardly concerned
himself with questions of finance or administration
of the Province. Mr.Liang while in Hongkong, I am
told, questioned Mr.Wei Yuk and Sir Kai Ho Kai as
to the feasibility of the issue by a Chinese bank
in Hongkong ( in which Mr.Liang Shih-yi holds shares )
of notes secured in the same way as are the note
issues of British Banks, to be used in the redemption
of the issue of the Canton Government. My informant
says that Mr.Wai Yuk told Mr.Liang Shih-yi that I
had said I was in favour of such an issue. If this
is true, Mr.Wei Yuk is under a strange misapprehension for on the 22nd.of July last I informed him and Sir
Kai Ho Kai that under no circumstances would the
Secretary of State, in whose discretion alone such
permission is vested, permit a foreign Bank to issue bank notes in this Colony.
6. I have sent a copy of this despatch to
His Majesty's Minister at Peking.
I have the honour to be,
sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
The Right Honourable
Lewis Vernon Harcourt.M.P.
&o. &c. &c.
Governor,&c.