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continuance of the daily service has throughout been
imperative on Imperial grounds, and that it would be
entirely inequitable to charge the cost of this Imperial aervice either to the Companies concerned or to this Government. The matter is essentially one in which the Imperial Goverment is interested and of which the
Imperial Government should meet the cost.
4.
The letter from the Hong Kong, Canton
and Macao Steamboat Co., Ltd., and from the China
Navigation Co., Ltd., sets out the matter in detail and
explains the discrepancy between the claim now submitted
and the claim made in my telegram of 25th March last.
I shall address you shortly on the subject
5.
of the losses for four months subsequent to April 20th
as soon as I receive the certified accounts from the
Companies, and on the question of the arrangements to be
made from August 20th onwards. Meanwhile the daily
service is being continued.
6.
I trust that you will be able to persuade His Majesty's Government to meet the full amount of the losses prior to April 20th, and to reconsider its decision
to bear only a portion of the losses subsequent to that
date.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
Governor, &c.