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Dec Governor of Hong Kong dated the 24th September in regard to the political situation in Canton.
The
Governor sent home with this despatch a copy of the
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diary of the visit to Canton on the 20th 23rd December,
누
1925, of Mr.A.G.M. Fletcher, C.M.G., C.B.E., the Acting Colonial Secretary.
Mr.Fletoher stated in his diary that during
a long tour through the city and on the voyage up and down he took careful note of the conditions prevailing.
The city seemed to him to be in a very prosperous
state. There was a large number of ships in the
harbour; the ships were bright and prosperous looking
and they and the streets generally were far cleaner
than they had been on the occasion of his last visit
some three years previously. Mr.Fletcher stated that
he had no doubt that the Canton authorities were
right in their frank statement that although the
inconvenience was at first very great and was at the
time of his visit still not inconsiderable, Canton is
learning to do without Hong Kong. He considered that
Hong Kong was undoubtedly losing trades which it
would find it very hard to regain, although he thought
that when normal conditions are restored Hong Kong ia
bound to have its full share in Canton's prosperity.
Given peace in Kuang Tung, the trade of both Hong Kong
and Canton should expand enormously.
Mr.Fletcher
was informed by an official in Canton that in the
few
months previous to his visit the revenue of the
city