. 2
-
4
Council, were also present.
4.
As the visit was entirely informal, there
were no official discussions. The atmosphere, however,
was congenial and friendly, and the visit served to make us acquainted with one another, and probably further to cement the happy relations which exist at present
between this Colony and Canton.
5. On the 22nd October, I was informed by the
Honourable Dr. Kotewall that he had received a private letter, stating that air. T.V. Soong, Minister of Finance to the Nationalist Government, was visiting Hong Kong the following day and would like to call on me unofficially. He came the following morning with
the Honourable Sir Shouson Chow and the Honourable
Dr. Kotewall, and stayed for about an hour.
He had
no official matters to discuss, and the conversation
was generally informal and of a very friendly nature. I discussed with him the question of education in Chinese classics and literature, and he stated that in official circles in China such a training was still
a requisite.
6.
Just before he left, I mentioned the question of the Customs Agreement, as I thought it was not improbable that his presence in Hong Kong at the same time as Mr. Maze, who had come down to discuss the
Agreement, was not entirely fortuitous. hope that we should be able to reach an agreement, and remarked that the main thing was the right spirit on both sides at the time when the agreement is signed.
He echoed my
Mr.
Page
- 3 -
Mr. Maze informed me subsequently that he had
discussed with Mr. Soong the draft, which was agreed
upon by Mr. Maze and myself, and that Mr. Soong had
expressed his concurrence therewith. He sailed for
Shanghai on the 28th instant.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient, humble servant,
Live
Governor, &c.
5 END