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the contract without the assent of the other.
I would also point out that apart from the signature of the Preliminary Agreement there exist binding engagements on the part of the Chinese Government as recorded in the correspondence between Sir C. MacDonald and the Tsungli Yamen in 1898, under which certain railways were to be constructed by British Syndicates on terms not inferior to those granted in the case of the Luhan line. The Canton-Kowloon Railway was one of those mentioned in these undertakings.
These and the preliminary Agreement are explicit engagements which His Majesty's Government are justified in expecting the Chinese Government to carry out.
The Governor of Hongkong has already explained to the Viceroy's Secretary, Mr. Wei, that His Majesty's Government are bound to support the Corporation in obtaining the fulfilment of the promise given in 1898 and that if the Viceroy desires any alteration in the terms of the Agreement, His Excellency's pro-
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