2
163
disastrous tenure of power of Cheung Fat-fui and
his associates and it is possible to form some
achievements of the
estimate of the genuine
present administration in the face of a situation
which in January, 1928 fell not far short of
general Chaos. The Provincial note issue at one
time exchanging for as little as 30 per cent of
its face value has been restored to par and an
attempt is being made to restore confidence by
the redemption of some of the many outstanding
debts of the past few years; Piracy and
Communism, two aspects of the same menace, have
received a severe set-back by the suppresion of
the Hoi-luk Fung Soviet, the operations in the
Bias Bay area and more recently by what seems to
have been a well organised attack on brigand gangs
in the Ku Tau Mountains of the Kongmoon hinterland;
A good beginning has been made in the construction
of roads adapted to motor traffic; The
provincial armies, though by no means under proper
control of the Central Administration, have been to
some extent concentrated and disciplined under the
four principal Commanders; and finally the year
1928 has scen the return of cooperation between
Canton and Hong Kong and the end of the long
sustained agitation against Great Britain.
3.
0
In the preceding paragraph I have dealt
It only upon the brighter side of the picture.
Wh
would be easy to present a far gloomier view
of
the situation. The provincial finances are still
anything but sound; Brigandage and piracy have
by no means been suppressed and in many districts
any relaxation of vigilance brings the
肇
Communist'