CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12] — Page 374

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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