Memorandum.
139
The Board most courteously and cordially offer every assistance, and they ask a series of questions in order to enable them to judge exactly what qualifications will be required on the part of the Officer to be selected. Before dealing with these questions it will be advisable to explain in general terms the nature of the Railway here, more especially in view of the last paragraph of the latter in which they are good enough to offer advice from their large Indian experience.
1.
A Railway has been constructed and is open between Peking and Hankow. Northwards of Peking it connects with the Siberian Railway and Europe. South of Hankow a Railway is projected to Canton. To redeem this concession (granted originally to the United States of America) the Hongkong Government lent the Chinese Government £1,100,000 on easy terms in return for which they promised to give the British first option of a loan for construction. This matter is now the subject of a serious diplomatic representation. There is, however, no doubt that the Loan from one source or another will ever be raised and construction commenced from the North. Meanwhile from the Southern end (Canton) construction has already begun (some 50 miles
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