Hongkong, Dec, 14.
The debate in Parliament on the! recognition of the Canton Gover ment as brought up by Mr. L. N. Leofe formerly of Hongkong received wide interest here. Local opin-Jon seems to be favourable to recognizing the regime in Canton or rather in Wuchang. In fact, certain sections are of opinion that this step is long overdue, Moderate opinion may find expression in the following view of 1 local morning, paper which says:
discussing the matter, however, is advisable for a beginning Signore details and" consider the board aspects. There appear to!
two sharply divided school of British thought. One regards an offer of recognition as tantamount to surrender in the face of unfair attack, and ranges itself behind the "Daily Telegraph" by holding Russia as an awful example. The other ig firmly of opinion that the recognition of de facto government is long overdue and along const tutes the gesture needed for Anglo-Chinese "friendship. Hongkong opinion inclines towards the latter school, and there is locally some regret that the matter was not taken up some months ago, Is Canton entitled to recognition? To argue the matter would require great space. We can arrive at once at a conclusion and reply in the affirmative." The paper con-eludes that Hongkong is closely interested in the discussion of recognition, and that it is time representations should go publicly from this section of the Far Eastern opinion.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.