A 2 : 1
156 instigation of that Power.
3. In the circumstances described it seems to me clear that alike for reasons of policy and of profit the Government of Hongkong should maintain entire control over the telegraph line from Canton from the point at which it crosses the frontier of the Colony just as the Chinese Government proposes to do from that point to Canton and beyond. The old line is a very circuitous one traversing the western part of the New Territories via Laichikok, and it will from every point of view be more advantageous that the telegraph line of the future shall follow the course of the Railway from which it will diverge but little in order to cross the harbour by the cable from Hunghom to North Point. Since, however, it is improbable that the Chief Resident Engineer will be in a position to erect the Railway Telegraph Poles (which will pass through the Tunnel) for another year or so, I do not propose to take any steps at present in regard to the existing telegraph line, and I am prepared to allow the matter to lie dormant until I am in a position to discuss the question of substituting the Railway Telegraph for it. I am the more ready to adopt this course in view of the fact that it would seem to me hardly fair to prompt the Eastern