| 44207
11 The Drive,
Golder's Green;*;*41, 19
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
28th, July 1919.
570
;
sir,
Gor
With reference to your letter 55042/1919 of 14th June I have
the honour to inform you that Mr. Bowley, of Messrs Dennys and
Bowley the Promoter's solicitors in Hong Kong, has arrived in
England bringing with him Colonial Government letter 1988/1913
dated 11th June 1919. From this and my conversation with Mr,
Bowley, it would appear that the only thing which is preventing
the scheme proceeding is that the National Electric Construction Co.
"cannot be regarded as satisfying the requirements of the Government"
This is the first intimation the Promoters have received that
there was any question of this kind, though the letter of the
Company, forwarded for consideration, was dated June 1918.
It will be obvious that the suitability of the Company for
handling this scheme, and carrying out the contract for the tramway,
is not less important to the Promoters than to the Government and
before putting the proposals before the Company originally they
satisfied themselves on this point. In view of the Hong Kong
Government's letter a long conference was held with the Company
today and the original opinion as to their ability to finance and
carry out the scheme to the satisfaction of the Government, was
It would therefore appear that the Hong Kong Govt:
has been misinformed, or is under some misapprehension, and it is
essential to get the whole matter cleared up satisfactorily without
delay. I should therefore be much obliged if you would kindly
inform me exactly in what way the Company is considered unsuitable
confirmed.
by
E