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CANTON-KOWLOON RAILWAY,
VICEROY REQUIRES CANCELLATION OF CONCESSION.
468
ENCLOSURE IN CONSUL-GENERAL SCOTT'S No. 66 of 1905.
Translation.
Viceroy to Consul-General.
Sir,
In connection with the proposal for the construction of the Canton Kowloon Railway, I beg to point out that Clause 5 of the draft Agreement concluded by Sheng, Director General of Railway Administration, with the representative of Messrs Jardine Matheson & Co. and the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation lays down that "if on consultation with the Viceroy and Governor of this Province, local difficulties be found to exist, the Agreement shall be mended accordingly"; that is to say, the arrangements for the construction of the line should depend on local conditions.
Now several years have elapsed since the conclusion of the agreement, and the present situation is totally different; with the result that any complaisance or compromise would only involve both parties in difficulties.
The construction of this railway was proposed with a view to the commercial advantage of both countries, and the recommendation by H.M. 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.
3
Copy.
printedallin
CANTON-KOWLOON RAILWAY,
VICEROY REQUIRES CANCELLATION OF CONCESSION.
468
ENCLOSURE IN CONSUL-GENERAL SCOTT'S No 66 of 1905.
Translation.
Viceroy to
Consul-General.
Siri-
In connection with the proposal for the construction of the Canton Kowloon Railway, I beg to point out that Clause 5 of the
draft Agreement concluded by Sheng, Director General of Railway Administration, with the representativeor Messrs Jardine Matheson & Co and the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation lays down that "if on consultation with the Viceroy and Governor of this Province,local difficulties be found to exist, the Agreement shall be mended accordingly"; that is to say, the arrangements for the construction of the line should depend on
Now several years have elapsed since the conclusion of the agreement, and the present situation is totally different; with the result that any complaisance or compromise would only involve both parties in difficulties.
local conditions.
The construction of this railway was proposed with a view to the commercial advantage of both countries,and the recommen- dation by H.M.Minister in Peking that British firms should undertake the work was due to his desirethat the line should be
speedily completed and the transport of merchandise the reby 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.
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