CO882-6 — Page 259

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ARTICLE 4. In consideration of the engagements entered into by the Company in this Agreement and of the strict fulfilment thereof, Her Majesty's Government undertakes to secure the Company against competition to the extent following, that is to say:-

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Her Majesty's Government will not, during the term of this Agreement, lay rior grant, nor permit to be granted, any concession or authority for laying any new submarine cables connected with Hong Kong, Singapore, or Labuan (whether in competition with the cables of the Company or not), unless such new cables should, in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, be found necessary in the public interest of Great Britain, Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, or Labuan, or in the general interests of international telegraphic communication. PROVIDED ALWAYS that if it shall be decided that new cables are to be laid, the Company shall, all things being equal, have the preferential right to the contract or concession for laying the same. PROVIDED that this Article shall not prevent the Great Northern Company from repairing, renewing, or replacing any submarine cable connected with Hong Kong, and shall not prejudice or affect the existing rights of that Company.

ARTICLE 5. Her Majesty's Government shall have the option at any time of cancelling all the foregoing Articles of this Agreement on giving to the Com- pany twelve months' previous notice, and on payment to the Company of a sum of £300,000, being the estimated cost of laying such second Cable.

ARTICLE 6.-Immediately on the payment of the amount provided in the last preceding Article the said second Cable shall become the property of Her Majesty's Government, and this Agreement shall at once cease and determinę.

ARTICLE 7.-Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the right of Her Majesty's Government to grant to the Government of the Dominion of Canada, or of any Colony in Australia, permission to lay, or cause to be laid, a Sub- marine Telegraph Cable connecting Hong Kong with Canada or with Australia, provided such connection with Canada or Australia be completed within five years from the date of this Agreement, after which date the exception in this Article mentioned shall become null and void.

ARTICLE 8.-This Agreement, unless sooner determined under Article 5, shall remain in force for the term of twenty-five years from the date hereof.

IN WITNESS whereof the said George Frederick Samuel Robinson, Marquess of Ripon, &c., &c., has, to one part of this Agreement, set his hand and seal, and the Company have, to another part of this Agree- ment, caused their common seal to be affixed the day and year above stated.

SHAL.

(Signed)

RIPON.

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE |BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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