c 1714/26.
Confidential Urgent.
494
На
DOWNING STREET,
July,1926.
"would have brought such a junction-line into
"existence long ago were almost completed when
"the revolution of 1911 broke out and caused a
"most regrettable postponement of the scheme. "The length of the line would be from three to
"five miles; but estimates of the cost vary
"within wide limits, according to the route sel-
"ected. An interesting memorandum on the sub-
་་ "ject of this proposed junction-line has been
"prepared by Sir Cecil Clementi, K.C.M.G., Gover-
"nor of Hongkong, and will be at the disposal of
"the Board of Trustees".
Your sincerely
Elohim. Comenih in
Nov.20 May
sir.
With reference to previous correspondence
on the subject of the allocation of the Boxer Indemnity
funds under the control of His Majesty's Government.
I am directed by Mr Secretary Amery to transmit to you,
to be laid before Secretary 3ir Austen Chamberlain,
the accompanying copy of a secret despatch from 3ir
C. Clementi, dated the 20th of Hay, in which he
expresses the earnest hope that a grant may be made
from Boxer Indemnity funds for the construction of a
Junction line at Canton to connect the Canton-Kowloon
Railway with the Canton-Hankow railway.
2. The extreme importance of this connection,
both to Hong Kong and to British interests generally,
has always been recognised by His Majesty's Goverment.
3ir Austen Chamberlain will be aware that continual
attempts were made, both before the construction of
the
UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE
FOREIGN OFFICE.