THE CANTON BUREAU

Upon arriving in Canton, Chang Pi-shih discovered that the merchants there were still hesitant to contribute to any officially sponsored project even when protection of commercial interests was its sincerely stated objective. The supervision of all the important agricultural, industrial, commercial and mining developments in Fukien and Kwangtung provinces was a strenuous bureaucratic responsibility to begin with and Chang's primary assignment, the stimulation and funding of new enterprises, would prove even more difficult for the 65-year-old overseas Chinese entrepreneur. Initial expenditures were expected to run to several millions and, in virtually every case, he was forced to put forward the crucial capital himself. In addition to the construction of the general office, Chang advanced the funds for several model schemes. As will be discussed in some depth in Chapter 7, Chang immediately set out to build a new railroad from Canton to Amoy to link the two provinces in his charge and to encourage development all along the right of way.

After establishing his headquarters and investigating the general commercial situation, Chang Pi-shih set out to devise means to protect local and returning overseas merchants.