Encl.
COPY.
in Sir John Jordan's No.380 of the 25 August 1909
J.O.P.Bland, Esquire,
Peking.
Dear Sir,
58
HONGKONG, 30 April 1908...
36191
(OCT 19 1908)
CANTON KOWLOON RAILWAY. Mr.Grove, the Engineer-in-Chief of the above railway, has had considerable discussion and correspondence with the Chinese authorities regarding the proper and just price to be paid for a piece of reclaimed and bunded land at Canton, which has been selected by him and approved by the Viceroy, as the site for the terminus of this line.
According to Mr.Grove, the actual cost to the Chinese of reclaiming this land (which we understand is Government property) could not have exceeded $111,078, whereas the price first demanded was Tls.400,000, a figure, which, owing to Mr.Grove's representations has since been reduced to $280,000. According to Article 7, paragraph 2, of the loan agreement the Viceroy is supposed to acquire land for this railway at actual cost price, and though this is perhaps not possible under conditions prevailing, we think Mr.Grove quite rightly maintains that a profit to the officials concerned of about $169,000 on 51 mow of land is altogether contrary to the letter or spirit of the agreement, and if "squeezes" on land purchases are to continue on this scale, the loan funds will not be sufficient to pay for the completion of the railway.
We enclose for your information copies of correspondence in the above connection, between Mr.Grove and the Managing Director, Mr.Wei Fan, from which you will observe that the price of $280,000 has apparently been sanctioned by the Board of Communications and by the Viceroy, and Mr.Grove having
Encl.
COPY.
in Sir John Jordan's No.380 of the 25 August 1909
J.O.P.Bland, Esquire,
Peking.
Dear Sir,
58
HONGKONG, 30 April 1908...
36191
ОСТ 19 1908)
CANTON KOWLOON RAILWAY. *.Grove, the Engineer-in-Chief
of the above railway, has had considerable discussion and
corresponder ce with the Chinese authorities regarding the
proper and just price "to be paid for a plece of reclaimed
and bunded land at Canton, which has been selected by him
and approved by the Viceroy, as the site for the terminus of
this line.
-
whereas the
According to Mr.Grove, the actual cost to the Chinese
of reclaiming this land (which we understand is Covernment
property) could not have exceeded $111,078.
price first demanded was Tls.400,000 ! a figure, which,
owing to Wr.Grove's representations has since been reduced
to $280,000. According to Article 7.paragraph 2. of the
loan agreement the Viceroy is supposed to acquire land for
this railway at actual cost price, and though this is perhaps
not possible under conditions prevailing, we think Mr.Grove
quite rightly maintains that a profit to the officials
concerned of about $169,000 on 51 mow of land is altogether
contrary to the letter or spirit of the agreement, and if
"aque· zes" on land purchases are to continue on this scale,
the loan funds will not be sufficient to pay for the
completion of the railway.
We enclose for your information copies of corres) ondence
in the above connection, between Mr.Grove and the "anaging
Director, Mr.Wei Fan, from which you will observe that the
price of $280,000 has apparently been sanctioned by the
Board of Communications and by the Viceroy, and Vr.Grove
having
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