Printed for the use of the Colonial Office.
Eastern
No. 77.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS-HONG KONG.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
(18199/1893.)
SINGAPORE AND HONG KONG SECOND CABLE, 1893.
AGREEMENT made the 28th day of October, 1893, between THE MOST HONOURABLE THe Marquess of Riron, &c., &c., Secretary of State for the Colonies, of the one part, and Tue Eastern ExteENSION, AUSTRALASIA, and China TELEGRAPH COMPANY, LIMITED (hereinafter called the Com- pany), of the other part.
WHEREAS it is expedient that the existing telegraphic communication with Hong Kong should be strengthened by the laying of a second Submarine Telegraph Cable between Singapore and Hong Kong without touching at any point not in British territory and connecting Labuan en route:
AND WHEREAS the Company are prepared to provide, lay, and work such a Cable forthwith at their own cost on the conditions hereinafter expressed:
It is hereby agreed as follows :—
ARTICLE 1.-The Company will, at their own cost and as promptly as possible, provide and lay a Submarine Telegraph Cable connecting Singapore, Labuan, and Hong Kong, and will work and maintain the same in good con- dition (save in cases of force majeure) for the term of twenty-five years from the date hereof, and upon the same terms and conditions as the existing cables of the Company, except so far as these terms and conditions are varied by this Agreement in respect of the new Cable.
ARTICLE 2. During the term of this Agreement all messages on the service of the Imperial Government or of the Colonial Government of Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, or Labuan, may be sent over any line owned or controlled by the Company at one half the rates paid by the public.
ARTICLE 3.—Her Majesty's Government will invite the Colonial Govern- ments of Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, and Labuan to provide that the Company's repairing steamers and all cables, cable apparatus, telegraphic in- struments and materials which are used solely for the purposes of the Company in laying, repairing, or working the new Cable, shall, during the term of this Agreement, be exempt from payment of Port and Light Dues at Hong Kong, Singapore, and Labuan.
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