4 -
said about revision of the Agreement when would
it be opportune to revise, and when would it be
opportune to adopt the revision ? These questions were all answered by insisting that it was for China to make any date possible by restoring efficiency, and sleepers, coaches, wagons and locomotives and handling facilities. His Excellency was very sympathetic with the Chinese difficulties but had to point out to Mr.
Hsieh that his own condition "business is business"
applied to both sides.
7.
-
Mr. Hsieh remarked that there was much
criticism on the division of fares laid down in the Working agreement as carrying the taint of the unequal treaties, to which is xcellency replied that the inequality in this matter was all in China's favour, but he repeated that he would be prepared to consider
revision if China realized and carried out her
responsibilities.
8.
Mr. Liu interposed that they were making
sacrifices on this account
-
had they not incurred a heavy loan for the purpose of purchasing engines? to which His Excellency replied that the loan was on very favourable terms but that the condition of the line was such that the engines though ready could not be used !
9.
20
There followed a desultory conversation though which His Excellency had continually to impress the point that China had failed in her obligations, that the failure was occasioning Hong Kong loss, that he was not averse from a revision of the whole greement, but that
the adoption of the revision must await the return to
efficiency
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