On the
Hongkong strikors and of the Canton Government, which
was losing moncy oving ing to the striko.
amount of compensation which had formed the subject of un
carlior conversation ho oxpressed the rio tht the scttle- mont would bring about a great prosperity to both places becauso Hongkong would bonofit by the fact that
the whole of Kwong Tung was now united and the trade
would not bo moroly the trade of Canton and the surround-
ing districts but the whole of Kwong Tung. He said Mr.
Fletcher admitted this.
On the 31st Mr. Li Yau Chuon and myself wont to sec
Mr. T.V.Sonng at his house at 9 a.m. and discussed tho
matter till 10 2.m. Mr. Soong was very much more sym- pathetic and statod ho would gladly assist where his
assistance could fairly be given. Ho said he received a
personal letter from Mr. Fletcher who expressed the
hope that the mattor would be settled boforo Mr. Fletcher
loft the Colony " now that all difficulties had been
romovod". But Mr. Soong could not understand what
Mr. Fletcher moant because the difficultics still
oxisted and wore groat. Ho said ho had made it very clear to Mr. Fletcher that it was not the opinion of the Canton Governmont that the mottor could be settled by somo
payment in licu of reinstatemont and striko-pay although
it was grood if the commercial torms had hoc scttlod
the Canton Governmont would do its best as regards
negotiating the other torms.
I have known Mr. Soong for a fou yours; he was extromoly friendly and struck mo as being genuinoly
dosirous of an early settlement.
At 10 2.m. we went to call on Mr. Wong Ching Vai
who was out but who instructed the Canton Govornmont's
socrotary to roccivo us. Nothing of importance took place oxcopt that the Secretary expressed the pleasure
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