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F219/4/10
of 1926.
Extension Telegraph Company was not favourably received.
The Canton Government who realised that the facilities
afforded to the Chire se Government by their having an
official station in Hong Kong were being directed against
them, have requested, either that the office might be
removed or that it might be put under their control.
The whole question was the subject of the conference
at the Colonial Office on January 13, 1926, when it was
agreed on behalf of this department that it was desirable
that the Chinese office in Hong Kong should be removed,
but that the moment was inopportune since any attempt at
that juncture would jeopardise the negotiations going
forward for the extension of the Companies' agreements
with the Chinese Government.
A suggestion, which appeared
to meet the views of Sir R. Stubbs representing the hong
Kong Government was that the office of the Chinese
Government telegraphs should remain in Hong Kong but should
be in charge of an Englishman nominated with the approval
of the hong kong Government.
The telegraphs companies were still opposed to any
action which would affect the status of the Chinese
telegraph office and in this attitude they were supported
by His Majesty's Minister at reking.
The change in the state of affairs in China, the
improved status of the Canton Government and the delicacy
of the companies' position vis-a-vis the reking Authorities
has however resulted in a change of views on the part of
the companies, who realise that they can no longer oppose
the natural desire of the Hong Kong Authorities to make
other.....