N°
$3.
15925
Sea SA.15
448
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG, 17th. February, 1915.
Sir,
CA
14408
14
With reference to your Despatch No. 244 of the
18th. September on the subject of the steel and iron work required for the Kowloon-Canton Railway Terminal Station, I have the honour to report that the contract for these materials was placed locally as it was considered that quicker delivery would be obtain- -ed, and it was desired not to hold up the Building Contract.
2.
Under the accepted contract the sun paid was
s.d. 88,329.48 or £746 3 8 taking the dollar exchange rate at 1/9), and the weight of materials supplied amounted to 87 tons, 6 cwts. The terms obtained were therefore practically identical with those indicated in the second paragraph of the Crown Agents' letter of the 10th. September. But the Colonial Government lost the advantage of expert examination before shipment.
3.
·
·
I am a strong advocate of obtaining goods
through the Crown Agents and this case will not be drawn into a
precedent.
I have the honour to be,
RIGHT HONOURABLE
LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P..
&c.,
&c..
&c...
Sir,
Your most obedient,
humble servant,
Banay
Governor, &c ..