COPY.
-235
C.O.
Sir.
Hongkong, 28th.eft60er 1912.
Race Part 9 NOV 12 We, the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, desire to respectfully lay before His Excel- -lency the Governor our views with reference to the establish- -ment of a Wireless Telegraph Station in this Colony, with the request that His Excellency will be good enough to transmit them to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
We notice that the Postmaster-General, Mr. Herbert Samuel, in a speech which he made in the House of Commons, on the 7th. August, (the last day of the Session, the House then adjourn- -ing till the 7th. October) made a very interesting announcement as to the intention of the British Government to erect and pay for various long-distance Stations out of the Post Office Vote, and prominently amongst the arguments in support of the desirability of his scheme, he stated that such Stations would be "useful in
peace for commercial purposes" and "likely to contribute to the cheapening of telegraphic communication between various portions of the Empire".
He also stated later on in his speech that the Royalty to the Marconi Company was to be ten per cent on the gross
hours revenue and that, if able to work at 20/per day, the arrangement would be profitable even at a considerable reduction of rates.
As regards the working of the System, the Postmaster
General stated that;-
stations:-
"The British Government would erect and pay for 4
(1) In England.
(2) In Egypt (subject to the approval of the
Egyptian Government).
(3) In East Africa.
(4) In Singapore or its neighbourhood.
The