OFFICE
91
Lord Monk Bretton
on 34346 Admiralty complained that the Contractors for Extension naval yard at
Hongkong have great difficulty in Securing stone for the work,
due to the fact that the right of quarrying is a
Government monopoly and is
farmed out
We telegraphed to Governor requesting him to facilitate the naval works (as regards quarrying)
as much as possible. We at the same time sent the Admiralty letter by mail to Governor for full and early report; and we also sent copy (received from Braddell, Public Works, Hongkong but now at home) for such light as he could throw
on
35270. Braddell's
report is that the Admiralty contractors were
given the
opportunity of farming the quarries themselves, but allowed the contracts to be outbid by
Chinese, and that now
they are
in
terms with that Chinese
firm
they referred
to
A
Convention
The Governor telegraphs [on 35553] in reply
to our telegram, and to the same effect as Braddell's letter!
We have sent copy of telegraphic correspondence to Admiralty as also copy of Mr. Braddell's letter