CO129-500-4 Canton situation- governor's despatches 15-9-1927 - 24-11-1927 — Page 108

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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that is tangible. Another speech in which he was reported to have expressed regret for his former Communistic leanings has been repudiated by him.

5. On November 11th Tseung Kai-shek landed in Shanghai and on November 15th Tong Sang-chi vanished from Hanko It was simultaneously announced that Wong Tsing-wai had given up his intention of holding the conference in Canton and that the venue would be transferred to Shanghai; and at 4 a.m. on November 16th. Wong Tsing-wai, accompanied by General Li Chai-sum, arrived in Hong Kong by special train and boarded the s.s. Empress of Asia" sailing two hours later. After their departure a letter was

Enclo Wo. 2 handed to me, of which I enclose a translation

General Cheung Fat-fui,who had reached Hong Kong a

few days earlier, remained in the Colony although he

was expected to accompany them to Shanghai.

6.

In view of subsequent events it is useless

to speculate at this period on the motives which led

to this change of plan and in particular to the

departure of Li Ch-i-sum from Canton. Popular opinion

held that Wong Tsing-wai's departure was chiefly due

to Li's opposition to his Canton scheme; whereas Li,

who felt that he had the Canton situation well in

hand and was at the same time well aware of Wong's influence, was prepared to soften the blow to his prestige by accompanying him to Shanghai.

7. However that may be, twenty-four hours after their departure, in the early morning of the 17th

November, fighting broke out in the city of Canton.

Detailed information is still lacking but it seems

clear that at the moment the supporters of Li Chai-sum,

Generals

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