CO129-333 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [1-4] — Page 484

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Enclosus Wa3 to Sound Depator of 6/1/06

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CANTO N-K OWLOON-RA ILWAY.

MIKUTES OF 3rd MEETING WITH VICEROY'S DEPUTIES HELD AT THE BRITISMAY 06

CONSULATE GENERAL ON WEDNESDAY 28th March 1906 at 3 p.m.

PRESENT. TAOTAIS WEI, WEN & KUNG, as representing His Excellency the

VICEROY OF CANTON, Mr TEBBITT, H.B.M. Vice-Consul, & Mr G.H.Ross

representing the BRITISH & CHINESE CORPORATION, Ltd.

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Mr ROSS handed to each Deputy a copy of the proposed Draft Agreement

dated 16/2/06, pointing out that this reprint had been drafted in the

name of H.E. the Viceroy of Canton (in place of that of SHENG Kungpao)

& in deference to a suggestion from Feking the amount of proposed

loan was therein stated as £1,500,000- in addition to amount required

for land, with a proviso added in Clause 2 for the issue, if necess–

-ary, of further bonds in event of this sum proving insufficient for

the completion of the railway.

With these alterations and addit-

-ions the Draft was identical with the (Blue) Draft of 9/2/05 given

to the Deputies in December last.

On the basis of this revised draft, Mr Ross was now prepared and

authorised by the British & Chinese Corporation to open negotiations.

Mr MEN enquired if Mr Ross had seen the two proposals recently made

by the Viceroy, & on receiving an affirmative reply said that the

Viceroy had decided to now recognise the Preliminary Agreement with

the Corporation as a binding document, & it was his intention to

raise a loan through the Corporation for the construction of this

railway, but he had now to consider the terms most suitable to the

conditions prevailing in his Province.

Mr KUNG said the Viceroy understood that the Northern Railways Loan

Agreement which had been made with the Corporation in 1898 was a very

satisfactory form of Agreement & had worked well.

Mr ROSS

informed the Deputies that he had no authority to discuss

any terms or proposals which differed materially from the lines indi-

-cated in the Preliminary Agreement.

Mr FEN assured Mr Ross that this was understood & appreciated by him-

-self & his colleagues, but what was now desired was to privately &

unofficially discuss the matter so that they might thoroughly under-

-stand

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