CO129-364 - Public Offices & Others - 1909 — Page 74

.T.co.of H.Ld.

2 -

72

PO A

Le

k

To the surprise of the Board, however, we have recently received information from our Representatives in Rongkong that the Government are introducing a Bill to amend the Tramway Ordinance 1902, and, from the text of that Bill, it appears to my Board that the Government are endeavouring to obtain the amendment of the original Ordinance with a view to giving them a stronger case in their claim against the Company. This Bill was actually presented and read a first time without any notice being given to this Company's Representative, who only became aware of it from a perusal of the Government

Gazette.

On the 26th August last, this Company's local Solicitors wrote the Colonial Secretary asking for the Government's assurance that the proposed amendment had no reference to the claim which the Government had put forward against the Company, and that it was not intended to cover any defect in the Ordinance which otherwise might operate to prevent such claim being successfully maintained, to which the Colonial Secretary has replied that the amendment will be retrospective in its operation and that no such assurance as

that asked for could be given.

At the same time, the Colonial Secretary has informed our Representatives that the second reading of the amending Ordinance has been postponed till 1st December, and that any representations by my Board should be made to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to whom the Governor was submitting

the Bill.

The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Crewe.