CO129-358 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [10-11] — Page 496

•

OP Y.

sir,

No. 1.

-41342

492

1, Des Voeux Road,

Rec922 DEC 09,

Hongkong, 20th. August, 1909.

Our clients the Electric Traction Company

of Hongkong Limited have had their attention drawn to the pro-

-posed Ordinance amending the Tramways Ordinance as published

in the Gazette of the 13th. instant.

2.

Our clients do not understand why this

Amending Ordinance has been put forward without previous

consultation with them and the obtaining of their acquiescence

thereto.

3.

We have the honour to point out that it was

on the faith of the terms of the original Ordinance as enacted

that our clients spent large sums of money in the construction

and equipment of the Tramway. Any alteration of that Ordinance

is liable to prejudicially affect the benefit our clients

anticipated reaping from their expenditure.

4.

We are instructed to request you to be good

enough before preceeding further with the Ordinance, to submit

it for our clients' approval otherwise our clients must hold

the Government responsible for any consequence prejudicial to

their interests arising by reason of its enactment.

Our clients maintain it is not open to the

Government to alter the terms of the Ordinance as enacted, save

with our clients' acquiescence, If alteration is made without

such aequiescence the Government must take the "esponsibility

for any injury our clients suffer.

The Hon. Mr. A. M. Thomson,

Colonial Secretary,

We have etc..

(Sd.) Deacon, Looker and Deacon.