J
58
the Agreement of August 4th, 1900, between the Adminis-
tretion and the two associated companies, under whion
all a reements between the Adɛinistration and the Com-
panies or either of them were extended until December
31st, 1930. The Chinese novernment have now declared
that when these agreements expire they will not be re-
newed in their present form and it is practically certain
that whatever new agreements may be negotiated between
the Chinese authorities and the Cable Companies to regu-
late their relations after the end of this year, His
Majesty's Government will not be invited (and would, I
imagine, probably be unwilling! to be in any sense z
party to them.
4.
If this is so I presume that the Chinese
Telegraph Administration will after December 31st next
no longer have any contractual claim via-a-via the
British authorities to the right to maintain their
office in the Colony of Hong Kong.
I have, ata..
(Is the absence of H. 3. Minister)
H.3.
(Signed) . X. B. Ingram.