2
Communication Company's hands. I emphasise this point
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because authorities are apt to visualise colonial communications
as something in the form of a monopoly. As far as Hong
Kong is concerned this cannot be, because the Chinese have
their own landlines and telegraph office for the reception
and distribution of messages, established in Hong Kong.
The only reason why this Office does not obtain all the
traffic is because of the conditions beyond Canton, but the
Chinese Government are being well advised by the Chinese
Electric Company, which is closely related to the International
Telegraph and Telephone Company who can soon put the
communications beyond Canton in order, therefore it is useless
to regard the service in the light of a monopoly.
Even so,
the service as it is pays Hong Kong not only as regards its actual revenue butas a trade facility, and politically, for
this reason it can only lead to the greatest disappointment
to all signatories to the agreement if any variation to Clause
8 is attempted, and especially as regards telegraph and
telephone service with Shanghai.
I have outpointed Clause 8 as I can appreciate that
a commercial undertaking such as the I.C.& C. will naturally
not wish to duplicate their channels, for example when they
take over Hong Kong, they will be operating no less than three
communication channels between Hong Kong, Shanghai, viz:-
Eastern Extension cable, Great Northern and Radio, yet
must continue, unless affront is offered to the Chinese.
Another difficulty I anticipate is to reconcile
radio
local requirements with Imperial desires, as regards telephany, the Imperial project covers communication between Hong Kong
and