CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906 — Page 202

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Before this last interview took place the

"hinese negotiators had contended that the ngineer

and Accountant should be exclusively under Chinese control, while Mr. Bland held that they al ould be

responsible to the Corporation for the efficient

construction of the railway. A compromise has now been made by which they are to be appointed and removed by the "orporation in consultation with

the iractor-Ceneral.

Vr. land informs me that he is prepared to

accept the suggestion made by Kung Taotal with

regard to the redemption of the Bonus. They will

be recommed by fixed annual payments in accordance

with a schedule and redemption within the first

26 youra can only be effected by giving 6 on the

notice and paying a precium of A. per cent.

The queation of the com lesion on materials

is one which has been hotly contested on both sides.

The "hinese think it unfair that they should be

obliged to pay this lovy upon articles of local

produce, while the British and Chinese Corporation

try to convince than that the remuneration is not

merely a commission on the purchase of the materialo,

but a charge for their services in supervising and

constructing the line.

er. T'ang has now offered to commute the

commission for a lump sum of £25,000; Mr. Plund

has offered to accept 235,000 and I understand from

the latter that the difference is susceptible of

adjustment.

The

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