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is able to afford me any general information on a matter regarding which I must confess to complete ignorance, I should be grateful. I venture to specify the following points in particular :----
1. What rights would the Government have to acquire, or what royalties would it have to pay, and, having acquired them, with whom would the Government find itself able to communicate? Would it be a condition precedent to the useful instal- lation of such a service, that the Government of the Straits and other neighbouring countries with whom it was desired to exchange commercial or other messages should take similar action?
2. What buildings or other erections would be required for a high-power station, inclusive and exclusive of a generating station, and at what approximate cost?"
3. Would it be necessary or advisable for the Government to erect its own generating station, or to use the power supplied by local companies? Which would be the cheaper?
4. What would be the best site for a wireless telegraph station?
5. What, approximately, would be the staff required for maintenance, exclusive and inclusive of the generating station, and what would be the approximate cost of such staff, together with other incidental charges?
I am, of course, aware that an estimate to be reliable should be obtained from a firm such as Marconi and Company, and I only ask for such general approximations as your expert advisers may perhaps be able to give me with a view to forming some idea of the possible practicability of the scheme.
I have, &c.,
His Excellency, Commander-in-Chief,
China Station.
Enclosure 2 in No. 3.
F. D. LUGARD, Governor, &c.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO ADVISE ON THE QUESTION OF ESTABLISHING A WIRELESS TELEGRAPH STATION AT HONG KONG.
The undersigned met on the 18th instant to consider the question, copy attached, addressed to them as a Committee by his Excellency the Governor, and have the honour to submit the following report :---
1. In the opinion of the Committee it is desirable that any wireless telegraph station established in the Colony should be a Government station, and not a commercial station.
That in view of the large use made by the Navy of wireless telegraphy, it would be better if this station were a naval station, working with the Colonial Government, and doing commercial work.
2. If commercial work were undertaken by this station an agreement would have to be arrived at with the Marconi Company, and royalties would have to be paid to it. The Committee have no information as to what the demands of the Marconi Company might be.
3. The diagram attached shows the places with which communication would be established, by day or by night, by means of the following naval installations :~-
(a) Mark II., as fitted to the larger ships on this station.
(6) Iligh power, as erected at Cleethorpes, England, provided the places indicated
were themselves provided with installations of similar power.
The success of the commercial working of the Hong Kong installation would depend on the number of these places provided with installations of equal power to that in Hong Kong.
4. The buildings and other erections required for a wireless telegraph installation,
of any power, are:---
(a) Masts, aerials, and earths.
(b) Wireless telegraph house, including transmitting-room, receiving-room, and
offices.
*Not printed. The diagram gives a radius of 500 miles by day and 1,000 miles by uight for (a), and of 1,000 miles by day and (probably) 2,000 miles by night for (8).
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(c) Quarters for the staff.
The cost of these for a high-power installation would be, approximately, 15,000l. to 20,000Z.
(d) A generating station, if required.
The cost of this for a high-power installation would be, approximately, 6,000Z.
5. As at present advised, we consider that the site shown on the attached sketch* to be the most suitable for a wireless telegraph installation, to be erected in Hong Kong, and controlled by the Navy, working with the Colonial Government.
6. In this location it is possible that the generating station might be dispensed with, the necessary power being obtained from the China Light and Power Company. Without asking the latter for a tender it is not possible to form an opinion as to which method would be the cheaper. We suggest that, when the site has been fixed on and the question has generally further advanced, a tender from this Company might be invited.
7. The staff for a high-power wireless telegraph station may be taken as :-
One oflicer in charge.
One electrician.
Three operators. Natives as requisite.
Should it be necessary to keep continuous watch, this number may have to he increased.
The approximate estimated cost of staff, maintenance, and other incidental charges, but excluding the generating station or other sources of supply, is 3,000 per annum. The cost of running a generating station would depend on the site adopted and the type of plant laid down, as well as the hours of work, and the extent the station was used, but it may be taken as approximately 2,500l. per annum, including the staff.
8. In conclusion we would remark that the foregoing estimates must be regarded as approximate only. They are submitted to give a general idea of the expenses involved, and are not for the purpose of accurate calculation,
22nd February 1910.
(Signed)
St. G. R. S. CAULFIELD, Major, R.E.
E. GILLESPIE, Lieutenant, K.M.L.I.
DAVID NORRIS, Flag Commander. F. H. MAY.
P. N. H. JONES.
Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 2. TERMS OF REFERENCE.
1. To report as to the best site for a wireless station and approximate cost, including value of land.
2. By whom such a station should be operated, and, if by Government, whether a joint arrangement between the Admiralty and Colonial Government is feasible.
SIR,
Enclosure 3 in No. 3.
Government House, Hong Kong,
23rd February 1910.
IN continuation of my letter of January the 13th, and with reference to the last paragraph of yours of February 14th, I have the honour to forward for your information, and for the favour of an expression of your views, the report of a Coufidential Committee which I caused to assemble under the presidency of the Hon. Sir Henry May, K.C.M.G., Colonial Secretary, with the object of furnishing me with their views on the questions raised in the attached "Terms of Reference."
2. Under date of October the 20th, 1909, I submitted to the Secretary of State for the Colonies an application from Messrs. Kegan and Rosencrantz to erect a wireless telegraphy station for commercial purposes in this Colony; to that despatch I have as yet received no reply, and as I have understood in conversation with yourself that it is highly improbable that His Majesty's Government would consent to allow such an installation to be in private hands, and as I understand further that it was your * Not printed..
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