CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6] — Page 35

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was obviously desirable, that strategic considerations should not

be overlooked when deciding ob the location of that part of the

line which lay within the jurisdiction of the Hongkong Government.

Sir Gerard Noel stated that "from a Naval point of view the East-

ern route is in every way preferable" and Major-General Hatton

.that he and his military experts are of opinion that the Eastern

route would best serve military purposes.

24.

From the foregoing considerations 1 am of opinion

that unless the engineers' detailed estimates show that by reason

of the cost of the tunnel a line by the East route will be con-

siderably more expensive than the longer one by the test route,

the proposed railway from the old boundary to the new frontier of

the Colony should follow generally the trace indicated by the red

tine on the map with stations near the 7th., 12th. and 16 1/2

miles as there given.

I have the honour to be,

Sic.

Your most obedient.

humble servant,

M. Nathan

Governor &c..

MyD