CO129-237 - Governor Des Voeus Acting Governor Stewart - 1888 [1-6] — Page 48

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The Government of stongtong to pay to the Imperial Government of China the

of $80,000,

Qvvvvr....

in consideration of the erection of _ the Lighthouse and maintenance of the light by the latter, it being

at the

time. there should at

that

if

xgreed

time be failure

any

on the part of the Imperial Government of China to maintain the light, the Government of tongking would be permitted to do so. Though

the above sum is believed to be a very full

to

whip at the cost of the work, if executed by the Colony, the Government of Hongkong,

to facilitate negociation and to assist towards rapid execution, is

with a view

willing

to increase

the payment to $90,000 on. condition that the Lighthouse is completed and in use within a period of two years from the 1. of May

next.

The

The

ocompouncy of the Rock, Cmporary or otherwise, for any of the purposes mentioned in the above alternative proposals would not "involve "the dominion",

in no

that

case would the Imperial Jovernment require to part with territory

Though the first propoval

would involve the heaviest cost to the Colony, and no cost at all to the Government of China beyond the permission to occupy a barren

of only a few

uninhabited nock

square feet in extent, this

Government would on the whole profer it, as affording the best prospect of permanently securing -object of so much importance to our commercial interests.

In view of the willingness of the

to bear the whole cost and,

au

a work which will

Colony responsibility of a

lar