that if it shall be decided that new cables are to be
laid the Company shall, all things being equal, have the
preferential right to the contract or concession for lay-
ing the same. Provided that this Article shall not pe-
went the Great Northern Company from repairing, or
replacing any submarine cable connected with Hong Kong,
and shall not prejudice or affect the existing rights
of that Company.
Article 5. Her Majesty's Government shall have
the option at any time of cancelling all the foregoing
Articles of this Agreement on giving to the Company
twelve months' previous notice, and on payment to the
Company of a sum of £300,000, being the estimated cost
of laying such second cable.
Article 6.-- Immediately on the payment of the amount
provided in the last preceeding Article the said second
cable shall become the property of Her Majesty's Govern-
ment, and this Agreement, shall at once cease and determin
Article 7.--Nothing in this Agreement shall affect
the right of Her Majesty's Government to grant to the
Government of the Dominion of Canada or of any Colony in
Australia permission to lay or cause to be laid a sub-
marine telegraph cable connectin Hong Kong with Canada
or with Australia, provided such connection with Canada
or Australia be Completed within Five years from the
date of this Agreement, after which date the exception
in this Article mentioned shall become null and void.
Article 8.-- This Agreement, unless sooner deter-
mined under Article 5, shall remain in force for the
term of twenty five years from the date hereof.
IN WITNESS whereof the said George Frederick Samuel
Robinson, Marquess of Ripon, &c, &c., has, to one part
of this Agreement, set his hand and seal, and the
12
13
Company have, to another part of this Agreement, caused their Common Seal to be affixed the day and year above
stated.
Seal
(Signed) Ripon
The end of the cable to Labuan referred to in the last
mentioned Agreement is landed in the same bay (Kailung- wan, near Pokfulam) as the cables referred to in II and
III and brought into the same Block house there.
V.
381
The Block house with Watchman's house adjoining, at Kai-
langwan is held under Squatters' Licence at a fee of $5:16
per annum and is required to be renewed annually in the
month of January.
The following is a copy of the Squatters' Licence
======
Gay Kailungwan.
SQUATTERS'
=
LICENCE NO.1.
Public Works' Department.
1st January, 1903.
Permission is hereby granted to E.E.4.& C. Telegraph
Co. Ld. to occupy a plot of ground at Kai Lung Wan
measuring 18ft.x 30ft. & 18ft.× 13ft. for the period
of one year commencing from the date hereof in con-
sideration of the payment of a fee of five dollars and
sixteen cents receipt of which is hereby acknowledge
and subject to the conditions endorsed hereon.
(sd.) 8.0.Rees
Pro. Director of Public Works.
CONDITIONS OF LICENCE."
1. This Licence shall cease and become void upon the death
of the Licensee or in case he shall cease to reside in
(13)