CO129-502-8 China- general situation 27-4-1927 - 15-9-1927 — Page 47

15

51

men, but the consequence would be nothing compared with the

peaceful -penetration policy of Hu Han-min. The Hong Kong Government should assist Li as far as possible, so as to pre-

vent Hu's return to the province. This will be as much to the interest of Hong Kong as to that of Kwongtung. It is very dif-

ficult to say in what way the Hong Kong Government can best

afford assistance to Li Tsi-hsin. The speaker returned to the

Colony only a few days ago, and he has been doing nothing but

attending to his father in his illness. He has seen a few men

sent down by the Canton Government to greet him; but beyond

the exchange of a few words of ordinary courtesy, they did

not discuss politics. In the course of the next week or so,

if his father's health improved, he would invite the Canton

Goverment to send their representatives down to see him

again, when he would study the situation.

41. Li Tsi-hsin's political views are not extreme, and

even Chang Fa-kuei is not a bad man, according to reports

from Hankow. Li seems to be sincere in his desire to eradicate

all Bolshevist influence in the province. His work in this

direction is, however, rendered nugatory by other disturbing influences. The power of the 'Reds' is merely lying dørmant, and not extinguished. Li Tsi-hsin needs peace and good order

in the province. Peace in Canton alone will not be sufficient;

it must be peace and prosperity throughout the whole of the

province, before Hong Kong can reap the fullest benefit. Hong

Kong should help Li to get rid of the pernicious influences

that work for the harm of both Hong Kong and Kwongtung, and to

restore peace and prosperity in the province.

The Trade of Hong Kong and British

Manufactures.

42. Mr. Liang asks His Excellency the Governor whether

trade in Hong Kong is better, and His Excellency replies that