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VIC
509
A
they have in mind", he writes," are the completion of the Canton -Hankow Railway, a railway to Chaochow near Swatow, the development of the Whampoa Port, and as a sop to Hong Kong
they would consent to throw in the loop line to connect the Hanow and Kowloon railways”.
9.
Such being the present position, I venture to
submit that there is no projected scheme in China upon which
a portion of the Boxer Indemnity funds under the control of
His Majesty's Government could be spent with such certainty of
benefit to British interests as upon the construction of
this short and inexpensive junction-line, and I earnestly hope that you may be able to arrange that an allocation should be made from the Boxer Indemnity funds for this purpose. If
this is done, I should endeavour to seize a favourable
moment for taking the matter up with the Canton Government and securing the construction of this long-delayed work,
I would further advise that, unless the Canton Government
itself should express a strong opinion in favour of Mr. Boothby's or Mr. Foord's alignment, it would be prudent to recommend that the junction line should be located as originally proposed by Mr. Grove, seeing that 90% of the
land for this aligment has already been purchased by the
authorities of the Canton Hankow Railway.
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I have the honour to be,
Sir, [
Your most obedient mable servant,
Governor, &c.