C.O.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
RES
2
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from the "An Yu Pao" of June 20, 1908.
THE BOARD OF COMMUNICATIONS CANCELS THE CONCESSION FOR THE CH'AO-CHOU-HUI-CHOU RAILWAY,
IN the year 1905 the Board of Agriculture, &c., obtained the Imperial sanction to the construction of a railway from Canton to Amoy. Subsequently, owing to the fact that the first section of the line from Canton to Whampoa infringed the rights of the Canton-Kowloon Railway, the Board last year obtained the Imperial authorization to order the construction of the section from Ch'ao-chou to Hui-chou instead.
However, since this alternative was sanctioned a further period of one year has elapsed, and, the Board having obtained the Imperial assent to the cancellation of all commercial railway undertakings, such as those in the provinces of Fukien, Kiangsi, and Anhui, which have no progress to show after three years shall have elapsed since their inception, Ch'en Pi has decided that, the Ch'ao-chou-Hui-chou line having shown no progress within the limited period, the Concession should be immediately withdrawn in the interest of railway construction. His Excellency has accordingly notified the concessionnaire, Chang Jung-hsien, who is making a tour of inspection of the Straits ports, of the withdrawal of his Concession.
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[31043]
No. 1.
P 23 SEP 08
[September 7.]
SECTION 3.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 7.)
(No. 333.) Sir,
Peking, July 21, 1908. I HAVE the honour to inclose translation of an Imperial Decree, issued on the 18th July, appointing the Grand Secretary Chang Chih-tung Administrator-General of the Canton-Hankow Railway, and placing the control of the whole line in his hands.
The High Authorities of the three provinces concerned, Hupei, Hunan, and Kuangtung, seem unable to agree on a definite course of action, and the appointment of a Grand Secretary and Grand Councillor of the standing of Chang Chih-tung (apart from his connection with the redemption Agreement of September 1905), to superintend the whole undertaking, will no doubt lessen disunion, and is intended to indicate that a serious effort must now be made to bring it to a successful conclusion.
Inclosure in No. 1.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Imperial Decree issued on the 18th July in response to a Memorial by Ch'ên Ch'i-t'ai (Governor of Kiangsu), pointing out the necessity for centralizing the management of the Canton-Hankow Railway, and recommending the appointment of a clean-handed and competent officer of high rank as Director-General.
THE Canton-Hankow main line is a factor of supreme importance in the establishment of communications between north and south, but although several years have now elapsed since Chang Chih-tung succeeded, after great efforts, in recovering for China the right to construct this line, no effective progress has yet been made, owing to differences of opinion between the officials, gentry, merchants, and elders concerned. A continuance of this dilatory policy must end in the sacrifice of important interests and injury to the railway system, and an officer of high rank should therefore be appointed to unify the control of the line with a view to securing its completion by an early date.
We therefore appoint the Grand Secretary and Grand Councillor Chang Chih-tung to hold, in addition to his other offices, the post of Administrator-General of the Canton-Hankow Railway with the duty of superintending, in consultation with the Board of Communications and the High Authorities of the three provinces, the taking of energetic action by the officials, gentry, merchants, and elders concerned. Let all important measures regarding the railway be directed and decided by him as occasion arises in accordance with the general interests of the three provinces, and after full investigation of the circumstances. Let all put aside their private views and work together, so as to avoid further waste of time and consequent obstruction of a measure so important to our means of communication.
[1940 g-3]
C.O.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Governm16568
RES
2
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from the "An Yu Pao" of June 20, 1908.
THE BOARD OF COMMUNICATIONS CANCELS THE CONCESSION FOR THE
CH'AO-CHOU-HUI-CHOU RAILWAY,
IN the year 1905 the Board of Agriculture, &c., obtained the Imperial sanction to the construction of a railway from Canton to Amoy. Subsequently, owing to the fact that the first section of the line from Canton to Whampoa infringed the rights of the Canton-Kowloon Railway, the Board last year obtained the Imperial authorization to order the construction of the section from Ch'ao-chou to Hui-chou instead.
However, since this alternative was sanctioned a further period of one year has elapsed, and, the Board having obtained the Imperial assent to the cancellation of all commercial railway undertakings, such as those in the provinces of Fukien, Kiangsi, and Anhui, which have no progress to show after three years shall have elapsed since their inception, Ch'en Pi has decided that, the Ch'ao-chou-Hui-chou line having shown no progress within the limited period, the Concession should be immediately withdrawn in the interest of railway construction. His Excellency has accordingly notified the concessionnaire, Chang Jung-hsien, who is making a tour of inspection of the Straits ports, of the withdrawal of his Concession.
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[31043]
No. 1.
P 23 SEP 08
[September 7.]
SECTION 3.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 7.)
(No. 333.) Sir,
Peking, July 21, 1908. I HAVE the honour to inclose translation of an Imperial Decree, issued on the 18th July, appointing the Grand Secretary Chang Chih-tung Administrator-General of the Canton-Hankow Railway, and placing the control of the whole line in his hands.
The High Authorities of the three provinces concerned, Hupeli, Hunan, and Kuangtung, seem unable to agree on a definite course of action, and the appointment of a Grand Secretary and Grand Councillor of the standing of Chang Chih-tung (apart from his connection with the redemption Agreement of September 1905), to superintend the whole undertaking, will no doubt lessen disunion, and is intended to indicate that a serious effort must now be made to bring it to a successful conclusion.
Inclosure in No. 1.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Imperial Decree issued on the 18th July in response to a Memorial by Ch'ên Ch'i-t'ai (Governor of Kiangsu), pointing out the necessity for centralizing the management of the Canton-Hankow Railway, and recommending the appointment of a clean-handed and competent officer of high rank as Director-General.
THE Canton-Hankow main line is a factor of supreme importance in the estab- lishment of communications between north and south, but although several years have now elapsed since Chang Chih-tung succeeded, after great efforts, in recovering for China the right to construct this line, no effective progress has yet been made, owing to differences of opinion between the officials, gentry, merchants, and elders concerned. A continuance of this dilatory policy must end in the sacrifice of important interests and injury to the railway system, and an officer of high rank should therefore be appointed to unify the control of the line with a view to securing its completion by an early date.
We therefore appoint the Grand Secretary and Grand Councillor Chang Chih-tung to hold, in addition to his other offices, the post of Administrator-General of the Canton-Hankow Railway with the duty of superintending, in consultation with the Board of Communications and the High Authorities of the three provinces, the taking of energetic action by the officials, gentry, merchants, and elders concerned. Let all important measures regarding the railway be directed and decided by him as occasion arises in accordance with the general interests of the three provinces, and after full investigation of the circumstances. Let all put aside their private views and work together, so as to avoid further waste of time and consequent obstruction of a measure so important to our means of communication.
[1940 g-3]
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