COPY.
HONGKONG,
29th July, 1929.
The Hon: Mr. W. T. Southorn, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary,
HONGKONG.
Sir,
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Ref: COLFIX COLD ULSION.
We have the honour to draw your attention to the fact that the above company, which was incorporated in Hongkong early in 1927 with a view to catering for the requirements of the Far Eastern markets, has, up to the present moment, not been favoured with any support from the local P.W.D. Authorities, although we have intermittently in the course of the two years, been in touch with them. We have made repeated attempts to have them give us various tests, but in every case has the support extended to us been unsatisfactory, and since the ramifications of Colfix, Ltd., which was recently amalgamated in London with International Bitumen Emulsions and which latter company is now very closely allied with the Standard Oil Co. of California, are very extensive, we are prompted to bring this whole question before you, in the hope that you will extend us official support in our efforts here.
The arguments of the local Authorities have always been that our Cold Emulsion is entirely unsuitable for their purposes, and while we do not presume to such an extent as would care to definitely challenge their opinion on highly technical points, we have good reason to opine that, in view of the complete satisfaction obtained by other road authorities in world-wide markets, a similar pleasant state of affairs should exist in Hongkong.
To substantiate our statements in regard to satisfactory results obtained in other markets, we beg to enclose herewith various extracts of reports which we have received, and which we think will amply demonstrate the fact that complete satisfaction has been obtained.
Frankly, we are of the opinion that we have not had the consideration, nor support, which one could reasonably expect from British Authorities, and it is with extreme reluctance that we are obliged to bring this matter before you.
We do not think that there should be any doubt as to the suitability of Cold Emulsions, in view of the rapid progress which various Cold Emulsion manufacturing companies have made throughout the world in the past two years, and we are particularly disappointed at the entire absence of reasonable support from the local P.W.D., especially in view of the fact that, so far as we are aware, it is the local Government's desire for the establishment of further industries in this Colony. In the past two years of our operations, we have sold close on 250,000 gallons of Colfix, and the limit of any business received locally is 1,000 gallons.
As a further point of interest, we would inform you that the London Company is meantime working at tremendous pressure, and arrangements have lately been concluded for