C
Copy.
No. 399. (43735)
Sir:-
EKING,
October 2nd, 1912.
* OCT 12
157
In your despatch No. 180 of July 3rd last (26405)
you were good enough to enclose copies of correspondence
which had passed between yourself and the Secretary
of State for the Colonies on a suggestion made by the
Officer Administering the Government of Hongkong that
efforts should be made to secure the inclusion of Gap
Rock in the territory leased to the Colony, or, in the
alternative, that the Chinese Government should be
asked to contribute $10,000 annually towards the main-
tenance of the lighthouse on the island.
On the receipt of Mr. Severn's letter of May 12th
I replied that in my opinion cessions of territory
were not likely to be favoured by any Government in
China and that in any case it was not an opportune
moment for raising a question which could only be dis-
cussed with a recommised Government.
I recently took an opportunity of questioning tre
The Right Honourable
Sir Edward Grey, Bart., K.G., M.P.
&c.,
86C.
&c.,
Inspector
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