CO129-512-1 Political situation in China- and Canton 30-11-1928 - 23-5-1929 — Page 166

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disastrous tenure of power of Cheung Fat-fui and

his associates and it is possible to form some

achievements of the

estimate of the genuine

present administration in the face of a situation

which in January, 1928 fell not far short of

general Chaos. The Provincial note issue at one

time exchanging for as little as 30 per cent of

its face value has been restored to par and an

attempt is being made to restore confidence by

the redemption of some of the many outstanding

debts of the past few years; Piracy and

Communism, two aspects of the same menace, have

received a severe set-back by the suppresion of

the Hoi-luk Fung Soviet, the operations in the

Bias Bay area and more recently by what seems to

have been a well organised attack on brigand gangs

in the Ku Tau Mountains of the Kongmoon hinterland;

A good beginning has been made in the construction

of roads adapted to motor traffic; The

provincial armies, though by no means under proper

control of the Central Administration, have been to

some extent concentrated and disciplined under the

four principal Commanders; and finally the year

1928 has scen the return of cooperation between

Canton and Hong Kong and the end of the long

sustained agitation against Great Britain.

3.

0

In the preceding paragraph I have dealt

It only upon the brighter side of the picture.

Wh

would be easy to present a far gloomier view

of

the situation. The provincial finances are still

anything but sound; Brigandage and piracy have

by no means been suppressed and in many districts

any relaxation of vigilance brings the

肇

Communist'