ENCLOSURE
Copy.
606
Hongkong & Whampoa Dock Co. Ltd.
HONGKONG, 6th June, 1901.
20130Sir,
I have the honour to inform you the contents
of your letter No.1478 of 20th instant, together with
the "conditions regarding the transfer of War Department
land" to this Company, have received the careful consideration
of my Directors in Meeting, and I am instructed
to reply as follows:-
1.
The Dock Company cannot engage to construct
a dock of such form and dimensions as shall be
approved by the Commander-in-Chief, China Station,
but are willing to submit plans of the proposed
dock to the Naval Authorities, and will endeavour
in every way to meet their wishes. The dock to be
built will be capable of taking in the largest ships
of H.M's Navy, but as you can quite understand a
dock built to Admiralty plans entirely may not be
suitable for commercial purposes and we therefore
cannot bind ourselves as the Naval Authorities
require: and, with regard to the latter part of
this condition, the Dock Company cannot agree to
the