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ownership. Sir John Jordan informs me in his enclosed
Despatch that he has arranged verbally with the Board of
Communications that Mr. Wei Hun shall act as their
delegate for the negotiation of a Working Agreement. He is
reported to be a man of liberal views, and Mr. Grove has
found him a satisfactory man to work with. I am of opinion
therefore that the opportunity is favourable to commence
the preliminary discussion of the principles of the Joint
Working Agreement, and since it will take some time to
select such a man as we require for the purpose in view I
have the honour to request that if Your Lordship concurs
in my proposal the Consulting Engineers or the Indian
Government may be requested to nominate a suitable person.
The matter is one of such importance to this Colony that I
should not be inclined to demur to any remuneration which
was considered necessary in order to obtain the advice of a .
first rate man, provided that the period of his engagement
did not exceed say three years, by which time he would
have been able to advise as to the conclusion of the
Agreement if necessary visiting Peking for the purpose -
to start the traffic arrangements when both lines are
7
completed, and to suggest modifications which early
experience might render advisable. His services might
then