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the sum of £35,000 half of which shall be paid when the construction work is half completed, but not later than eighteen (18) months after commencement of construction, and the other half upon completion of the line. This amount shall be regarded as a commutation of all commissions to which the Corporation and its Agents would properly be entitled, and of payments of all services rendered in the construction and equipment of the Railway, in respect of the present Loan; but in the event of a branch line being decided upon by the Chinese Government for construction in connection with this Railway, and if the Chinese Government decide to build the same by issue of a foreign loan and not from its own resources, then the Corporation shall have the first option of tendering for such Loan, and a further payment, proportionate to the amount of such supplementary Loan, and calculated at the same rate as the commutation hereinabove mentioned, shall be made to the Corporation as commutation of its commission for all services in respect of construction.
In return for this commuted commission the Viceroy is entitled to require the Corporation to superintend the purchase of all materials required for the construction and equipment of the Railway, which shall be purchased in the open market at the lowest rate obtainable, it being understood that all such materials shall be of good and satisfactory quality. At equal prices and qualities, goods of British manufacture shall be given preference over other goods of foreign origin. Invoice and inspector's certificates are to be submitted to the Viceroy.
With a view to encouraging Chinese industries, Chinese Government and other materials are to be preferred provided price and quality are suitable.
No commission shall be allowed to the Corporation on the purchase of materials except as above provided. All trade discounts or rebates, if any, are, during construction, to go to the construction account and after completion, to the credit of the Railway.
Article 10