ND. SECRET
Sir,
38
14
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HỒNG KÔNG,
31st August, 1937.
(23)
Enclosure 1.
Enclosure 2.
·
440
197
42
(ading, Copy & genell. to
wt.
FO.
43
ART 444
Tressy 45 1
With reference to your Secret (2) despatch
of 8th July, 1937, on the subject of the development
of the Port of Whampoa I have the honour to transmit
copies of a letter of 14th August, from the British
Consul-General in Canton, with two enclosures, and of
my reply of today's date.
2.
The complacency with which the possible
emergence of this rival port is regarded by Hong Kong
may be further justified by the following quotation
from a letter written by Mr. Blunt on the subject of
the dredging contract mentioned in the second paragraph
of my Secret (2) despatch of 20th May, 1937:-
3.
"The Netherlands Harbour Works Company told my
informant that as they were being paid so much per
cubic metre it was up to the Chinese Government
to decide when enough money had been wasted. I
am also told that the Company, who were the
sole tenderers, stated that they would lose no
money if they received only half the contract
price".
As regards "the alternative channel across the Lintin Flats" referred to in the fifth paragraph
&
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
W.G.A.ORMSBY-GORE, P.C., M.P.,
&C.,
&C., &c.