In any further communication on this subject, please quote
No.
and address-
776/76/10
not to any person by name,
but to-
"The Under-Secretary of State,"
Foreign Office,
London, S.W.1.
Sir,
X
5-276-64
FOREIGN OFFICE.
173
17 JAN 1928
FFICE
S.W.1.
16th January,
1928.
With reference to Foreign Office letter No. 9493/30/10
of the 4th instant regarding the Chinese Telegraph Office
in Hongkong, I am directed by Secretary Sir Austen Chamberlain
to state that a communication has been received from the
Chairman of the Eastern Extension Australasia and China
Telegraph Company, Limited, acquiescing in the proposal of
the Governor of Hongkong that they should operate the land
line to Canton as agents for the Chinese Ministry of
Communications on the understanding that His Majesty's
Government will support them in refuting any charge of
having violated the Agreement of 1884.
2. Sir Austen Chamberlain is accordingly prepared to concur
in the suggestion made by the Governor of Hongkong in the
first sentence or the fourth paragraph of his telegram of
December 19th. He thinks, however, that the further suggestion
made in the second sentence, that the Hongkong Government
should threaten to close down the Chinese Telegraph Office
in the Colony, should be left in abeyance for the present.
Copy of this letter is being sent to the Admiralty, War
Office, Air Ministry, India Office and General Post Office.
3.
I am,
Sir.
Your obedient Servant,
George Modnsey.
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.