Canton-Kowloon Railway.
162
Canton,
1st September 1908.
The Hon. F.H. May,
Colonial Secretary,
HONG KONG.
Dear Sir,
1. I have recently opened negotiations with Deputy Soo Ching Hung Fo, Manager of the Telegraph Department of Wai Chow, with regard to the construction of a telegraph line parallel to our Railway line between Canton and Sam Chun.
Our proposal is to construct a first-class line, 3 wires to be at the disposal of our Railway and 6 for the Chinese Telegraph Department, Railway telegraph offices being under our control on terms of agreement similar to those in force on the Shanghai-Nanking Railway.
As you will anticipate, the idea of the Chinese department is to supplant existing wires between Canton, Sheklung, Sam Chun, Kowloon, and Hongkong.
My reason for putting this before you is that Mr. Soo has asked me to enquire if your Government will meet us by allowing the Chinese Telegraph Department wires (6 or less) to proceed to Kowloon on your Railway posts and thence to the Hongkong Telegraph Office by cable.
I understand that the Chinese telegraph communication already passes over the British leased territory and passes by cable to Hongkong, and their idea is, I understand, to now provide for communication in the manner indicated. I may point out that the proposal is favourable to the Railway from our point of view and would facilitate...