Copy.
Enclosure No.1.
132
Chinese Telegraph Office In Hong Kong.
Mr. Chiang (Tsiang) Tsun-wei, Director General
of the Chinese Telegraph Administration, called by appointment on Sir C. Clementi at H.B.M. Legation on November 15. Mr. Chiang was accompanied by his assistant Mr. Ju Jen-ho (J.H. Ju), the Vice-Director General Mr. Wang Huan-wen, and Mr. Ch'en Ch'ing-wen (C.M. Chen), of the Railway Department of the Ministry of Communications. (The last named is the official whom the Director General proposes to send to Hong Kong as Manager of the Chinese Tegraph Office there in the hope that he may be able to arrange matters with the Government of Hong Kong and the
Canton Authorities).
After an exchange of courtesies Sir C. Clementi said he would like to explain the position to the Director General. The Hong Kong land line as far as the frontier
was kept in good order, the necessary work being mostly done by the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company; on the
frontier there was an automatic switch, two lines leading to Swatow and Canton respectively; both these lines in
Chinese territory were usually out of repair and were continually being damaged by brigands, soldiers, etc. In his, Sir C. Clementi's opinion, the best course to follow
in the interests of all concerned would be to close the
office for a time and carry on telegraphic communication between Hong Kong and Canton by means of the two existing Government wireless installations; or failing this, to hand
over the land lines between Hong Kong and Canton to a private company to work and repair. In the latter event,
however,