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#: J COE Y. (Translation.) Enclosure 5. 33376
Yuan and Wu, Directors of Chinese Telegraphs, To H. B. M's. Consul-General, Shanghai. July 23rd., 1904.
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I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch enclosing a letter from the Colonial Secretary, Hongkong, to the effect that, during the Boxer trouble, the entire administration of the Telegraphs had been handed over to the Chinese Government; that, moreover, the name of the Administration, "General Telegraph Administration of China" (N.B. The Chinese name contains no character signifying "Imperial".), precluded the idea that it was an ordinary commercial enterprise, and the Hong-Kong Government could not recognise it as such; and that he requested you to press for an early removal of the block-house to the Chinese side of the frontier and for the transference of the poles and wires to the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company.
On receipt of the above I instructed the General Manager to write a report, which I have now received. It is as follows:-
"Although on December 18th., 1902, the administration was handed over to Government by edict, yet, subsequently, on January 15th., 1903, a second edict was promulgated in the interests of commerce allowing existing shareholders to invest additional capital. During the past year no shareholders have sold out. This goes to prove that the property is that of a commercial body. In the Seventh Moon of this year (August 11th. to September 8th.) a dividend on the shares issued is to be declared, and notice will, as heretofore, be given in the papers to shareholders as to obtaining payment. This is further evidence that
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