Page 363
CONFIDENTIAL
Government House,
March 1904
Referring to the question of the construction of a railway from Canton to Hong Kong, I have the honour to report that information has reached me that an Englishman is at present negotiating at Shanghai with the Director of Chinese Railways for a concession for a railway from Chinking to the Yangtze on condition that such a railway should join the Canton-Hong Kong line. Such a railway could transport goods and passengers within twenty-four hours from Chinking to Hong Kong, whereas at present they travel round by sea occupying five days in transit.
I have not been able to gather any details of this project. It is worthy of the support of His Majesty's Government, and if such a line were constructed it would much increase the earnings of the section of the Canton-Hong Kong Railway which lies within the limits of this Colony.
I have the honour to be,
Your most obedient,
humble servant,
[Signature]
To the Officer administering the Government
Page 363
[End of Page]
Right Honourable
Alfred Lyttelton
K.C. M.P.
[Signature]
was corrected to
The text is re-formatted into proper paragraphs and minor OCR errors are corrected while keeping original page numbering information intact.
becomes
Here is the rewritten response without the extra text at the end:Page 363
CONFIDENTIAL
Government House,
March 1904
Referring to the question of the construction of a railway from Canton to Hong Kong, I have the honour to report that information has reached me that an Englishman is at present negotiating at Shanghai with the Director of Chinese Railways for a concession for a railway from Chinking to the Yangtze on condition that such a railway should join the Canton-Hong Kong line. Such a railway could transport goods and passengers within twenty-four hours from Chinking to Hong Kong, whereas at present they travel round by sea occupying five days in transit.
I have not been able to gather any details of this project. It is worthy of the support of His Majesty's Government, and if such a line were constructed it would much increase the earnings of the section of the Canton-Hong Kong Railway which lies within the limits of this Colony.
I have the honour to be,
Your most obedient,
humble servant,
[Signature]
To the Officer administering the Government
Page 363