Subject.
! Page.
HONG KONG.
February 14
the
523
Forwards copy of a letter from
British and Chinese Corporation, enclosing a telegram from Mr. Bland, and complaining of the delay in issuing the Imperial Edict ratifying the loan agreement, together with copy of a telegram to Sir J. Jordan, enquiring whether matters could be expedited.
Forwards paraphrase of telegram from His Majesty's Minister at Peking announcing the ratification of the Canton-Kowloon Loan Agreement,
February 27
330
Foreign Office
March 8
CORRESPONDENCE
RELATING TO THE
524
525
PROPOSED CANTON-KOWLOON
RAILWAY.
Transmits copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Minister at Peking report- ing that a proposal to reduce the term of the loan from 50 to 30 years has been agreed to by the parties and is being submitted to the throne.
Transmits copy of a telegram from His Majesty's Minister at Peking stating that he has informed the Governor of Hong Kong by telegram that the Canton-Kowloon Agreement was signed on March 7.
526
APPENDIX.
Agreement between the Director-General of the Imperial Chinese Railways and the British and
Chinese Corporation, Limited, dated 28 March, 1899...
1413
No. 1.
ACTING GOVERNOR MAY to MR. LYTTELTON. (Received January 13, 1904.)
(Confidential.)
SIR,
527
***
Government House, Hong Kong, December 15, 1903. I HAVE the honour to inform you that prior to the departure of Sir Henry Blake, I attended in an entirely unofficial capacity the ceremony of opening a railway line from Canton to a large town 12 miles distant, called Fatshan, which has been constructed as a branch line by the American China Development Company, which is constructing the railway from Hankow to Canton.
2. On that occasion I met the Secretary (Mr. Brice) and the Superintending Engineer (Mr. Gray) of the Company in question. These gentlemen, recognising that the success of the Hankow-Canton Railway depends in a large measure on its connection by railway with the sea, were most anxious to learn what prospect there was of the British and Chinese Corporation, who have been granted, as you are doubtless aware, a concession from the Chinese Government for the building of a railway from Hong Kong to Canton, beginning to construct this latter line. I was given to understand that the American Company desired so much to see this line built that they were prepared to make the British and Chinese Corporation an offer to either take over their concession and build the line, or to lease the line for a term of years when built, provided it is promptly built.
3. As far as this Colony is concerned, it is of the greatest importance that the Corporation referred to should either build the railway from Hong Kong to Canton or resign their rights to others to build it.
It is conceivable that if the connecting railway to Canton, is not built, the American Company would be forced, in the interests of the trunk lide from Hankow to Canton, to connect it with some point on the Canton River where deep water would enable ocean steamers to lie and load their freights. If such a scheme were carried out the supremacy of this port as an emporium of trade for South China would be seriously threatened, and the effect on its prosperity and future expansion might be disastrous.
4. Apart, however, from that consideration, it is to the interest of this Colony that the rauway from here to Canton should be constructed as soon as possible.
18885
A
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
PERC.O. 882
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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