1
(3)
386
}
Government re-opened the question by requesting the Company to remove the brick house at the old frontier near Samsuipoo to the new frontier, and to conduct negotiations with the Administration for the transfer to the Company of the Chinese section of the line between the old and new frontiers; at the same time, arranging for the Administration to close their Station at Samsuipoo. In reply, the Company referred the Government to the correspondence exchanged on the subject in 1899, when Sheng (the Chinese Director- General of Telegraphs) had stated that he required instructions from his own Government before taking any action; and, under the circumstances, the Company suggested that the Hongkong Government should open negotiations direct with the Chinese. Thereupon the Colonial Secretary stated that he was not aware of the previous correspondence and desired the Company to do nothing in the matter for the present.
In November 1903, the Hongkong Government still wishing to have set back the Administration's line from the old to the new frontier, requested the Administration to remove the Junction House to the new frontier, and suggested their negotiating with the Company for the transfer to the Company of the Chinese section of the line in British territory, but the Administration opposed the transfer on the plea that the Administration's business was a private undertaking.
Subsequently, owing to the frequent thefts at the Junction House making it difficult to maintain the
connection, the Chinese and British wires were removed
and connected in the Administration's office at
Samsuipoo and the old Junction House abandoned.
(In