CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6] — Page 311

[(COPY)

Enclosine No 4 to Scued Despatch of 5th April 1905

306

Transletion of a paragraph in the We Tsz Yat Po

of February 18th, 1905.

PROPOSED BAILAAY KROV CANTON TO WHAVPCA.

Cheung Pat Sz, Commissioner of Agriculture, Fublic Morks, Railways and Vines for the Fuk-kien and Kwang Tune Provinces, who holds the rank of Tai Puk, has opened a central office outside the Tsene Foi pate in Canton for the purpose of constructing & railway to run from the Fast date of the City to heroos. This railway will even-

It is proposed to tually be connected with the Canton-Hanków line. make a port of Whamuos, and the piece will be opened up for general trade by China. Wr. Vokay, an frericon, has been engezei as Engineer, and Mr. Yeung line Chune, an Expectant Sub-prefect has been deputed to act as Interpreter; while Vr. Cueuna Kai Vene, e Sub-magistrate, has been appointed to superintend the purchase of the land required. These three are to proceed at orce to survey and mac out the route of the line, under the escort of Captain Kwong Shing Yon and a company of

soldiers.

The District Vagistrate of Pun Yu will be asked to for- nish two police officers for the further protection of the party, as the railway will be built in his district; while instructions are to be issued to nim not to grant titles to, nor to permit transfers of, land along the proposed route, to prevent unprincipled versons from buying it up and then jemanding an exorbitant price for it.

As all thinking persons must see, the building of rail- aavs has been a benefit to China, when carried out by the people but an injury when done by foreigners; as has been the practice hitherto, owing to the imperfect svapathy between the officials and the people; as lately for instance, no Chinese would undertake the building of the Canton-Hankow line. Now that they want to get it back there is much trouble over the matter; and Cheung's idea is to secure the con- trol of the branch lines as the first step towards the control of all.