Extract from the HongKong Daily Press of the 6th October, qu.
THE OPENING OF THE RAILWAY,
OFFICIAL DINNER AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
His Excellency gave an official dinner at Government House on Wednesday night on the occasion of the opening of the Canton- Kowloon Railway, the guests including: Mr. Li Chen, representing f. E. The Viceroy of Canton, Mr. Chao Ching Hus, Managing Director, Mr. J. W. Jamieson, Mr. Gompertz, Mr. Barnes, Mr. Chatham, D. Atkinson, Mr. Brewin, Captain Lyons, Dr. Ho Kai, Mr. Wei Yak, Mr. Rosa, Mr. Stabb, Mr. Robertson, Colonel Wrigley, Mr. Harris, Mr. Maze, Mr. Grove, Mr. Moore, Mr. Garibaldi, Mr. Hall, Mr. Logan, Mr. Lindsey, Mr. Lau Chu-pak, Mr. Ng Hin-tr%, Mr. Fung Wa chun, Mr. Leung Pai-chi, Mr. Chan Sin-ki, Mr. Chan Lok-chun, Mr. Lau Yam-tsun, and Mr. Ho Kom-tong. After the usual loyal toasts, HIS EXCEL- LENCY spoke as follows:-
Gentlemen, I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without asking you to pledge success to the Canton-Kowloon Railway. Many who are my guests this evening have enjoyed the privilege of attending the lunch which the Chinese Gov- ernment gave at Samchun to-day in honour of the occasion, and you have heard many sposchos, and drank to many toasts there, similar to that I am now proposing. I do not therefore intend to inflict a long speech upon you or to ask for a response, but I should greatly regret not to have an opportunity of myself wishing success to the railway, aud of bearing testimony to the admirable work done by those who have been responsible for its construction and for all that bas led up to the opening ceremony to-day. We have here this evening many of those who have been engaged on the construction of each section, and you who have traversed the line from end to end can bear witness to the admirable way in which their task has been fulfilled, from the emplace- ment of the great girder spans across the river at Sheklang to the boring of the tunnel through the Kowloon hills. We have also present the gentlemen who have represented their respec- tive Governments in the negotiations for Agreement for working the Railway My
Chao, on be- gnest opposite, Mr. half of the Chinese Government, and Mess:s. Lindsey and Clementi on behalf of the Hongkong Government. I, who have been conversant with every single step in thesÉ negotiations, can testify as no-one else can to the ability with which both sides have presented their point of view, and the tolerance and courtesy with which they have debated the subject. The draft is now completed and awaits the couanrrence of the Peking authorities which I trust may not be long delayed. The spirit which has prompted both sides is that if the railway is to be a succoss it must be regarded as a business proposition in which both parties who have invested should obtain a fair return for their capital. This can only be achieved if it is reseguised that we have a common interest in developing the line as a whole against outside competition. I offer on behalf of the Colony of Hongkong our hearty congratulations to Mr. Chao, the Director-General, and to Mr. Grove, the Managing Director, and to all the staff of the Chinese section on the completion of their great undertaking to-day, and I ask you to raise your glasses t the toast "Success to the Kowloon- Canton Railway."
Mr. Li Chen, Mr. Chao and Mr. Grove expressed their thanks,
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