CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906 — Page 175

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view to the commercial advantage of both countries,

and the recommendation by His Majesty's Minister in

Peking that British firms should undertake the work

was due to his desire that the line should be speedily

completed and the transport of merchandise thereby

facilitated; not in the personal interests of any

individual.

As the section of the line within Kowloon territory

is to be constructed by your Government, this Government

will, on its part, raise funds for the construction

of the section between Canton and the Chinese frontier

of Kowloon; each Government to have exclusive and

independent control of its own section, and I would urge

that the question of British firms constructing

the Chinese section be now dropped.

When both sections of the railway have been completed,

a joint working agreement can then be arranged.

As regards the salaries and expenses of the Engineers

employed by Messrs Jardine Matheson and Company to

survey the line, I should be glad if you would ascertain

the amount from that firm and inform me, so that I may

duly refund it, as is but fair.

The plans and estimates for the line which have been

drawn up by these engineers should, however, be obtained

and delivered to this Government through you.

I have instructed Messrs Wei, Wen and Kung, to inform

Mr. Ross personally to the above effect; and I have now

the honour to request that you will be so good as to

communicate with His Majesty's Minister in Peking and the

Governor of Hongkong, as also with Messrs. Jardine Matheson

and Company and the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, in the

same sense.

I avail &c.,

(Viceroy's Seal).