1: in Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.}~
38147 [October 5 here
358
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[33097]
No. 1.
REG 29 OCT 07
SECTION 2.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.(Received October 5.)
(No. 389.) Sir,
WITH reference to my despatch No. 191 of the 24th April last, I have now the
Peking, August 17, 1907. bonour to report that Mr. Wu Ting-fang having declined to accept the appointment conferred upon him by Imperial Decree, on the ground of ill-health, the commence- ment of work on the Canton-Kowloon Railway has been postponed pending the choice of a suitable successor.
A successor has now been found in the person of Mr. Wei-Han, a second rank official, and Taotai Designate on the Kuangsi establishment, and the Imperial assent to the appointment has been signified in response to a Memorial by the Board of Communications which was published in the "Gazette" of the 7th instant.
Mr. Wei-Han, whose appointment as Managing Director is gazetted, is described in the Memorial as having a reputation for ability and special knowledge of subjects connected with public works. He appears, according to a telegram which the local agent of the Corporation has to-day received from Hong Kong, to have made a favourable impression on the Corporation who have expressed the hope that the new Viceroy of Canton will make no change in the appointment.
It is intended that work on the line which has been delayed during nearly five months, out of the eight within which under Article IV of the Loan Agreement it is to commence, shall begin next week.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
[2691 e-2)