4
5
304
may yet see the vast Empire of China thrown open by railways and telegraphs to European commerce.
the
annex a letter in favour of the Chinese Telegraph Line from the Chamber of Commerce. The prevalent opinions and feelings of this Colony on the subject in question appear to be fairly summed up in the subjoined article which has appeared in one of the local newspapers:
The Hongkong Telegraph
HONGKONG, FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1883.
FROM an announcement in our advertising columns it will be seen that the Canton-Hongkong Wa Hop Telegraph Company, having completed the line from the City of Rams to Kow-wa, a small village on the mainland of China, directly opposite Stone-cutters Island, will be prepared to accept telegrams for transmission from the general public, on and after Monday next the 9th instant. We have on previous occasions written in complimentary terms of the combined energy and enterprise which, against national superstitions and traditions, and in the face of immense difficulties, persevered in the laudable and enlightened task of connecting by telegraph this great emporium of trade with the first commercial city in China, and we have now to eulogise the liberality and enlightenment of the promoters of this Chinese company in throwing open a line, which has been constructed under most adverse circumstances and at a heavy outlay, to the outside world on terms entirely without parallel in the history of the telegraph throughout the world. The tariff for messages between Hongkong and Canton has been fixed at Five cents per word, undoubtedly the lowest rate charged by any telegraph company on the face of the globe. In addition to this nominal charge, there is a temporary extra charge of one cent per word, to defray the cost of transmission by steam launch from the Company's office in Hongkong to the terminus at Kow-wa. As soon as the requisite permission is obtained from the British Government to connect the land-line at Kow-wa by cable with Hongkong, this temporary charge will be abolished. So long as the laying of this cable is interdicted by the Government, the community will be the sufferers, and although the financial loss may not be a heavy one, the principle adopted by the Secretary of State in dealing with this matter is radically bad and wholly indefensible. The Canton-Hongkong Wa Hop Telegraph Company deserves well of the commercial world of Hongkong; these liberal-minded Chinese reformers deserve well not only of the British but of all other European governments. The opening of this telegraph line is the beginning of the end, the first step taken in Southern China to practically open up the country. After the line has been formally opened, we may find occasion to deal more minutely and at greater length with the probable results of this remarkable enterprise; at present, it is enough to direct attention to the Company's prospectus, and to express our intense gratification that Mr. Ho Amei and his worthy colleagues have successfully carried out an important work, and earned for themselves the proud distinction of being the real pioneers of European civilisation in the southern provinces of the Chinese Empire.
annex copies of the notice issued
4
5
304
may yet see the vast Empire of China thrown open by railways and
telegraphs to European commerce.
the
annex a letter in favour of
the Chinese
Telegraph Line from the Chamber of Commerce. The prevalent opinions and feelings of this Colony on the subject
in
question appear to be fairly
summed up in the subjoined article which has appeared in one
of the local newspapers :
Lea
*
}
-
The Hongkong Telegraph
HONGKONG, FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1883.
FROM an announcement in our advertising columns it will be seen that the Canton- Hongkong Wa Hop Telegraph Company, having completed the line from the City of Rams to Kow-wa, a small village on the mainland of China, directly opposite Stone- cutters Island, will be prepared to accept telegrams for transmission from the general public, on and after Monday next the 9th instant. We have on previous occasions written in complimentary terms of the
combined
Enclosure 1.
dlosure 2 3 Epare copul
combined energy and enterprise which, against national superstitions and tradi- tions, and in the face of immense difficulties, persevered in the laudable and enlightened task of connecting by telegraph this great emporium of trade with the first com- mercial city in China, and we have now to eulogise the liberality and enlightenment of the promoters of this Chinese company in throwing open a line, which has been constructed under most adverse circum- stances and at a heavy outlay, to the out- side worldon terms entirely without parallel in the history of the telegraph throughout the world. The tariff for messages between Hongkong and Canton has been fixed at Five cents per word, undoubtedly the low- est rate charged by any telegraph com- pany on the face of the globe. In addition to this nominal charge, there is a tempo- rary extra charge of one cent per word, to defray the cost of transmission by steam launch from the Company's office in Hong- kong to the terminus at Kow-wa. As soon as the requisite permission is ob- tained from the British Government to connect the land-line at Kow-wa by cable with Hongkong, this temporary charge will be abolished. So long as the laying of this cable is interdicted by the Government, the community will be the sufferers, and although the financial loss may not be a heavy one, the principle adopted by the Secretary of State in deal- ing with this matter is radically bad and wholly indefensible. The Canton-Hong- kong Wa Hop Telegraph Company de- serves well of the commercial world of Hongkong; these liberal-minded Chi- nese reformers deserve well not only of the British but of all other European governments. The opening of this tele- graph line is the beginning of the end, the first step taken in Southern China to practically open up the country. After the line has been formally opened, we may find occasion to deal more minutely and at greater length with the probable re- sults of this remarkable enterprise; at present, it is enough to direct attention to the Company's prospectus, and to express our intense gratification that Mr. Ho AMEI and his worthy colleagues have success- fully carried out an important work, and earned for themselves the proud distinction of being the real pioneers of European civilisation in the southern provinces of the Chinese Empire.
annex
copies of the notice
issued
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