13083
Hongkong
C.
156921
REC 195 Porary 4 WAY 08
Canton-Kowloon Railway.
We much regret that you have not so far been able to induce the Yu Chuan Pu to consent to the appointment of Messrs Barry as Consulting Engineers of this line. The proposal to appoint Mr. Jeme Tien Ya to the post, is, as you say, absurd, and we have so informed Mr. Wet Hen, the Managing Director. We have duly advised the Board of Directors of this proposed appointment, and informed them that you had protested there against, and were in consultation with the British Minister in the matter. So far we have had no expression of their views in reply to our message.
Mr. Grove tells us that he has the necessary outline designs and details of the bridge borings ready for submission to whoever may be appointed as Consulting Engineer, and we enclose for your information copies of his letters Nos. 358, 415, and 424 on this and land purchase questions, addressed to the Managing Director.
We have instructed Mr. Grove to forward complete copies of these bridge designs and boring details, through the Corporation in London, so that they can hand them without delay, if they so desire, to Messrs Barry, who with these to work on can prepare working designs for the bridges and specifications of material required.
The Yu Chuan Pu evidently do not realize that buildings such as are necessary at Sheklung, require specialists to design and prepare the specifications for material etc. The fee asked by Messrs Barry, i.e. $2000 per annum (and a computed fee for inspection of material of $600 per annum or any 7% over the total construction) is a small matter, and it might well be endeavoured to impress on the Board of Communications...
...Esquire.