The Eastern Extension Australasia & China Telegraph Company, Limited:
SIR,
100
258
1858 Rect REGE 3 FEB 93
66, OLD BROAD STREET, E.C.,
LONDON, 9th July, 1885.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of two letters from your Department, dated the 20th and 22nd ultimo respectively, transmitting copies of Despatches from the Governor of Hong Kong, with memoranda by Colonel Walker containing suggestions for obtaining, by means of the Company's existing Cable, direct telegraphic communication between Hong Kong and Singapore.
These suggestions, which of course are only intended to apply to a state of actual war, have received the Company's careful consideration; and although the object in view might be attained by the adoption of the second or third plan advocated by Colonel Walker, it would necessarily be attended with many dangers and difficulties - our experience of floating stations, even in time of peace, being very unsatisfactory - and might involve the violation of our Concessions from the French Government, in which case our subsidies and traffic from Cochin China would be forfeited, amounting to about £20,000 per annum. Under these circumstances the Company could only remove the Cables from Cape St. James at the special request of, and upon indemnification by Her Majesty's Government.
At the same time I would observe that the value of reliable telegraphic communication entirely in British hands between Great Britain and her valuable Colony of Hong Kong is, in my opinion, as important both politically and commercially in time of peace as in time of war, and considering the large British interests involved it is a serious question for the Government to consider whether the present is not the time to respond to the Colony's appeal for a direct submarine Cable with Singapore.
Since receiving the letters under reply, the Company's Agent at Hong Kong has telegraphed that the matter is still engaging the attention of some of the leading men of the Colony, who name £5,000 as a possible yearly contribution on the part of Hong Kong towards the object in view. This amount is, however, so far short of the estimated annual cost of the Cable, namely, £30,000, that unless the Imperial Government, with possibly the assistance of Singapore, can see their way to make up the Subsidy of £20,000 asked for by the Company, it will be impossible for us to move further in the matter.
The Right Hon.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
JOHN PENDER,
Chairman.