CO129-318 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [7-10] — Page 381

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Australasia and China felegraph Company)

for the landing of a Submarine Telegraph

Cable at Fai Ho Wan (Kai Lung Wan)

Po vy

Memorandum of Agreement entered into between the Govern-

ment of Bong Kong (hereinafter called "the Government")

of the one part, and The China Submarine Telegraph Com-

pany Limited (hereinafter called "the Company") of the

other part, Whereas the Company have applied to Her

Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign

Affairs, for permission to land a Submarine Telegraph

Cable, in this Colony, and such permission has been

granted by Her Majesty's Government, upon, and subject

to the conditions contained in Articles four, five and

six of this Agreement And Whereas the Company have also

applied to the Government of Hong Kong for permissionto

erect a Block House, on the shore at Tai Ho Wan on the where their said cable is intended to be landed. Southern side of the Island, And Whereas permission has

been granted by the Government to the Company to land

such cable, erect such Block House, and also to run the

Telegraph Wires under and along the public high roads

between Tai-Bo-Man and the Company's Station at Victoria

and from thence under and along such other' public high

roads as may be necessary for the purposes aforesaid,

upon the terms hereinafter mentioned: NOW these Presents

WITNESS that it is hereby agreed by and between the

parties hereto as follows:-

1. The Company have permission to land a Submarine

Telegraph Cable at Tai-Ho-Wan in this Colony and to

maintain and work and use the same upon and subject to

the conditions of Articles four, five, and Six of this

Agreement.

2.

The Company may erect and maintain a Block House

•

on the sea shore at Tai-Ho-Wan, paying to the Govern-

ment for the same and for the use of such portion of the shore between the Block House and low water mark

as may be necessary for the purpose of maintaining

their cable, & rent of One Dollar per annan if de-

manded: Provided Always that such Block House shall be erected and used for the purpose only of securing the shore end of the said cable, and for protecting

the connection of the band. Line therewith, and shall

not be used as a residence for any servants: of the

Company other than watchmen..

3.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to

confer any special concession to the Company or af-

feet the right of the Government to grant similar

privileges to any other Telegraph Company, which may

apply for the same.

4.

The Company shall not work their Telegraph under

exclusive privileges.

5.

The Company will at all times give priority to

Government Messages whether despatched by the Imper-

ial or Colonial Government.

6.

The Government shall have power to take poss-

ession of the Company's cable, Stations, &c., in the

event of any emergency arising which in the opinion

of the Government may render such course expedient,

subject to reasonable compensation being given by

Her Majesty's Government for any loss that may be

incurred by the non-transmission of commercial

messages.

7.

The Company will not dispose of their under-

taking to any Foreign Government or to any other

Company without the assent of Her Majesty's Govern-

ment.