Enclosure No 18.
392
Proz The Hongkong & China Gas Co Ltd,
To The Hon: Actg: Colonial Secretary,
Hongkong, 3rd June, 1901.
The Honourable
The Actg: Colonial Secretary..
Sir,
I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter No 1183, dated the 26th inst. and received by me on the 27th, together with the copy of the draft of a Bill entitled "An Ordinance for authorizing the construction of a Tramway within the Colony of Hongkong". I note your remarks concerning the proposed bill.
This Company's registered office and Board of Directors are in London and it is impossible for me to communicate with my Board & comply fully with your request.
I beg to state, however, that I do consider the interests of this Company are not sufficiently protected by the proposed Tramway Ordinance.
This Company must object to Clause 19 which should be altered in such a way that any alterations to be made in the run of the gas mains or piping should be carried out by this Coy. at the expense of the Electric Tram Company. In reference to this I should point out that when our pipes have to be shifted for the convenience of the Water Authority or the Drainage Department, we carry out the work and not the Government.
I desire the insertion of a clause on the following lines:-
If...