No
2.577.
Hongkong.
ber 1963
C.O.
1912
212
Goverment House,
JA 041
Hongkong, 17th. December, 1903.
Six.
USE O
EASTERN WG 88
COLONIAL
OFFICE
I have the honour to transmit for your
information the enclosed copy of a letter from the Hongkong
Branch to the China Association in London on the desirability
of conserving and protecting British interests in South China
by the opening of Walchow on the East River to foreign trade
and the necessity of immediately proceeding with the construc-
tion of the Kowloon-Canton Railway, with a branch to Walchow.
2.
I am in entire sympathy with these projects,
and concur in the opinion of the writers of the letter that
their realisation is of pressing importance to this Colony
and to the interests of Great Britain in the Far East. The
opening of the port of Walichow is provided for in section 12
of Article VIII of the recent Commercial Treaty between Great
Britain and China, and it is most desirable that if possible
this portion of the Treaty should be carried into effect with
the least possible delay. The question of the construction of
the proposed railway is understood to depend upon the steps
taken by the Syndicate who have long held the necessary con-
cession; and I venture to hope that His Majesty's Government
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
ALFRED LYTTELTON, K.C., M.P.,
20.
&C..
80...
will