CCF Y.
Sir,
Endlowe 4
39370 118
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, 14th June, 1904.
With reference to your letter of 29th April forwarding a translation of a Note from the Director-General of Chinese Telegraphs, I am directed to inform you that His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government is informed that some time during the Boxer troubles the entire Administration of these Telegraphs was handed over to the Chinese Government. Moreover the name of the Administration 'Imperial Chinese Telegraph Administration' precludes the idea that it is an ordinary commercial enterprise and this Government cannot therefore see its way to treat it as such.
It is therefore on these grounds that I am directed to request you to be so good as to press for the early removal of the block-house to the Chinese side of the frontier and for the transference of the poles and wires in the New Territory to the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company.
I have etc.,
(Sd.) A. W. Thorson,
Colonial Secretary.
To His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General,
Shanghai.