CO882-6 — Page 684

YOUR EXCELLENCY,

328

Enclosure 3 in No. 213.

THE only thing that appears to me to call for observation is the depth of water in respect to approaches alongside.

To vessels of the deep draught it is contemplated may lay at the wharves, the western harbour entrance is practically a closed door, but even if the eastern entrance is used, 36 feet is about the limit of water they should draw-unless, of course, the vessels are timed to come and go at high water. Again, should vessels of the "Minne- sota" class load fully up, there would be no room to them in the harbour after leaving the deep water berths.

2. The vessels of deep draught that have determined the present proposal for a 40 feet depth are all under the American flag, and it is a question as to whether this considerable depth of water might not be reduced, say, to the original proposal of 36 feet, unless it can be shown:---

(1) that these few ships are likely to make any appreciable difference to the

trade;

(2) and whether they would use the wharves under the foregoing considerations. 3. I would emphasize the fact of their being few in number, as I cannot think the mammoth ships mentioned will have a following. The tendency in shipbuilding is to have large size vessels with as light draught as possible. Our own vessels rarely exceed 26 feet, nor do I think they are likely to do so.

4. In respect to the eastern harbour approach, I think provision should be made to level Belcher Ridge to, say, seven fathoms. The only passage for deep draught vessels is between this ridge and the Cust Rocks, which will disappear when the south-easternmost corner of the wharf is constructed. Traffic to the berths must then, to a certain extent, interfere with this already somewhat narrow passage, and I sub- mit, therefore, that this matter should not be lost sight of.

5. It is just possible that vessels using the Hong Kong and Whampoa Docks might be somewhat hampered in their movements. I do not think they would, but it is for consideration that a similar expression of opinion from the Manager might as well be filed.

January 3, 1906.

L. BARNES-LAWRENCE,

Harbour Master.

t

329

2. I am also to enclose a copy of a letter to the British and Chinese Corpora- tion, who, it is understood, have already addressed your Department with regard to the attitude of the Viceroy of Canton.

3. Lord Elgin has no doubt that Sir E. Grey will concur in his opinion that it

is impossible for His Majesty's Government to acquiesce in the Viceroy's attitude, and he would be glad to learn what action it is proposed to take in the matter.

2553

(Secret.)

SIR,

No. 216.

I am, &c.,

C. P. LUCAS.

THE EARL OF ELGIN to GOVERNOR SIR M. NATHAN. [Acknowledged by No. 241.]

•

Downing Street, February 15, 1906. WITH reference to your secret despatch of November 3rd, 1905,† and to previous correspondence, I have the honour to forward to you the enclosed copies of corre- spondence with the Foreign Office on the subject of the Canton-Kowloon Railway Loan Agreement.

To Foreign Office, December 15. Foreign Office, December 27. Foreign Office, January 23.

5477

I have, &c.,

ELGIN.

No. 217.

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received February 16, 1906.)

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments

to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and, by direction of the Secretary

of State, transmits herewith copy of the under-mentioned paper.

Foreign Office,

February 16, 1906.

4817

No. 214.

GOVERNOR SIR M. NATHAN to THE EARL OF ELGIN. (Received 10.27 a.m., February 10, 1906.)

(Paraphrase.)

TELEGRAM.

*

In reply to your telegram of yesterday, I see no objection to proposed state- ment being made in the prospectus. Reference should also be made to the fact that an Imperial edict has been obtained, and it should be made clear that the loan is

Hong Kong Government Loan and not a Chinese.

a

What is proposed rate of interest and price of issue?

3022

REFERENCE TO PREVIOUS LETTER : From Colonial Office, February 7, 1906.§

DESCRIPTION OF ENCLOSURES.

Name and Data.

·1

tiations.

Bubject.

To British and Chinese Corporation, 14th February, Present state of Canton-Kowloon Railway Nego-

1906. Confidential Print (No. 7129/1898), No. 105 and ↑ Northern Railway Loan Agreement.

one enclosure.

SIR,

No. 215.

COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.

[Answered by No. 219.]

Downing Street, February 13, 1908.

I am directed by the Earl of Elgin to forward to you, to be laid before Secretary Sir E. Grey, a copy of a despatch† from the Governor of Hong Kong with regard to the Canton-Kowloon Railway negotiations.

SIR,

(Confidential.)

Enclosure 1 in No. 217.

Foreign Office, February 14, 1908. WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 8th instant, I ain directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to acquaint you, for the confidential information of the British and Chinese Corporation, with the reply which has been received from His Majesty's Minister at Peking to the enquiry addressed to him as to the present state of the Canton-Kowloon Railway negotiations.

• No. 208.

† No. 202.

* No. 306.

18885

↑ No. 181.

‡ Nos. 189, 192 and 198.

§ L.F. transmitting a copy of No. 195.

T

PUBLIC

་། ། ་། །

RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO