2
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
Extract from the "Wa Tsz Yat Po" of October 19, 1906.
(Translation.)
OUR special telegram received 6-30 yesterday from a Peking correspondent. The British Minister has many times made representations to the Board of Foreign Affairs stating that the Whampoa Railway affects the interest of the Kowloon-Canton Railway. The Board of Foreign Affairs has directed Viceroy Shum by telegraph to suspend the construction of the former line for the present, but Viceroy Shum has sent a telegram in reply strenuously opposing the Board's direction.
(Translation.)
Inclosure 5 in No. 1.
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Estract from the "Tsun Wan Yat Po of October 20, 1906.
FURTHER news regarding the construction of the Canton-Whampoa Railway. We have reported lately that the construction of the Canton-Whampoa Railway would be suspended for the present. Later on we have learned that Viceroy Shum has insisted that his power should not be interfered with, and that the construction must be carried on on his responsibility. He has detailedly discussed this matter with his Excellency Choung, Lord High Chamberlain. It is believed that the construction of the railway will be commenced shortly, and there will be no delay.
As to the opening of Whampoa to be a Treaty port, which Viceroy Shum and his Excellency Cheung have jointly memorialized to the Throne, and received the Imperial sanction to do so, his Excellency Cheung's opinion is, we understand, that the matter should be laid aside until affairs should be properly managed regarding the Canton-Whampoa Railway. The matter is now under the consideration of the authorities.
My Lord.
Inclosure 6 in No. 1.
Governor Sir M. Nathan to the Earl of Elgin.
Government House, Hong Kong, December 14, 1906. IN continuation of my Secret despatch of the 1st November, 1906, dealing with the project to connect Canton with Whampoa by a railway, I have the honour to inclose, for your Lordship's information, copies of despatches, with inclosures (not Chinesene wspapers), addressed to His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking,
(Signed) M. NATHAN.
I have, &c.
3
Inclosure S in No. 1.
Extract from the Wai Sun Yat Po" of November 5, 1906.
(Translation.)
SCHEME of inviting people to take shares in the Canton-Whampoa Railway. The Canton-Whampoa Railway is to be constructed by the money subscribed for shares. His Excellency Cheung Pat-sz has undertaken to invite people to take up shares. No pecuniary aid of the Government is required. He has drawn up twenty- one rules which have been sent to the Board of Trade to be kept on record. At present the expenditure for the commencement of the work is heavy, and a close estimate of the cost of land, material, &c., shows that about 800,000 to 900,000 taels avo required. His Excellency Cheung, Lord High Chamberlain, will advance from 100,000 to 200,000 taels to get the work started, and he will offer the shares to be taken up in the south at 100 taels each. The number of shares is fixed at 8,000, and Chinese subscriptions only are to be accepted.
As to the survey and scheme of construction of the whole line, the rate of customs duties, and the track for the railway, although a general plan has been decided upon, a great many things have not been discussed, and when the new Viceroy arrives the whole scheme will be discussed and carried out.
It was originally decided that the work of opening Whampoa as a commercial spot should be included in the Canton-Whampoa Railway. It has been time after time surveyed by foreign surveyors, all of whom have been of opinion that it would be a suitable spot, being on the route for vessels trading between Canton and Hong Kong, and there being an extensive area and deep water-more than 10 fathoms in depth. If wharves and go-downs are erected, it will be proved a suitable port for trading vessels of all nations. A clear and simple plan has been made and sent to When the Viceroy, who will subunit it to the Board of Trade for consideration. nearly all the shares have becu taken up, a decision will be arrived at as to whether both schemes shall be carried out simultaneously or one before the other.
(Secret.)
Sir,
Inclosure 9 in No. 1.
Mr. Ponsonby to Sir J. Jordan.
Government House, Hong Kong, November 16, 1906. IN continuation of my Secret despatch of the 13th instant, dealing with the Chinese project to connect Canton with Whampoa by a railway, I bave the honour to inclose, for your Excellency's information, a copy of the issue of the "Sheung Po" of the 8th instant, together with a translation of an article in this paper on the subject of this railway scheme.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
RICHARD PONSONBY,
Private Secretary.
(Secret.) Sir,
Inclosure 7 in No. 1.
Mr. Ponsonby to Sir J. Jordan.
Government House, Hong Kong, November 13, 1906.
of
IN continuation of His Excellency the Governor's Secret despatch of the 1st November, 1906, dealing with the Chinese project to connect Canton with Whampoa by a railway, I have the honour to inclose, for your Excellency's information, a copy the issue of the " Wai San Yat Po" of the 5th instant, together with a translation of an article in this paper on the subject of this railway scheme.
I have, &c. (Signed) RICHARD PONSONBY,
Private Secretary.
(Translation.)
port.
Inclosure 10 in No. 1.
Extract from the "Sheung Po" of November 8, 1906. FURTHER news concerning Canton-Whampoa Railway and Whampoa as a Much information regarding the construction of the Canton-Whampoa Railway and the opening of Whampoa as a port is to be found in our previons issues. We now learn that both the Chief Engineer, who is an American, and the Assistant Engineer, who is a European, have arrived at Canton, A survey for the line of the railway and of the waterways has been completed. The ancliorage decided upon measures over 10 l, and the shallowest part of it, even during ebb tide, is 20 feet deep. Tens of vessels can be at anchor there; and it is a suitable spot for navigation. It is proposed to build the railway before the opening of Whampoa as a commercial spot. The survey of the land for the port of Whampoa has not been undertaken yet. The railway track will pass over several small rivers, all very narrow-the widest being the Niu River, which also is not very wide--and the work will be easily done.
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