538

(

405-

Confidential.

Salow. Tel. 175

for! 12.

1905.

Sir:-

20speis

PRIVED POR

He.

EASTERN

88

COLONIAL OFFICE

C.0.

40822

FOREIGN OFFICE 16 NOV 051

November 151, 1905.

I laid before the Marquess of Lansdowne your

Fo

letter 37732/1905 of the 3rd instant, respecting

the loan by the Government of HongKong to the Vice-

roy at Wuchang, and the question of the Canton-Kow-

loon Railway.

It appears to Lord Lansdowne to be out of the

question to request the Corporation to surrender

their concession for this line in the manner sug-

gested by the Governor of Hongkong.

The adoption

of such a course would produce a very bad effect on

the Chinese Government, with whom His Majesty's Min-

ister at Peking has experienced considerable dif-

ficulties with regard to British railway concessions

in China.

Moreover His Lordship cannot believe

1

that such a suggestion on the part of His Majesty's

Government would be favourably received by the Bri-

The Under Secretary

of State,

Colonial Office.

CAS ST. BA 12

*

Over

tish

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