CO129-403 - Governor Sir May Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1913 [8-10] — Page 49

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the Green Island Cement Company, limestone has een

btained by

thrt Company from the Kurngtung Province the s,sue being to contract with Chinese for delivery er junks at the Company's Hok-un (Kowloon) or lacno works. On the 24th. April, 1912, the Kuangtung Government suddenly and without warning issued a proclamation pro- -hibiting the export of blue limestone from the province. The Company's supplies, therefore, one to a sudden stop, and as the Company has been unable to obtain suitable lines one from other

sources except at unreasonable cost, the Company ..ade a Arim of 8619,837 for damages suffered by them up to 3rd. April, 1913, add- -ing that should the Kuangtung lover.ment continue indefinitely to deny the Company's right to secure stone from the province, their total claim based on a consumption of 175,000 tons per annum, the present cost of Tonkin stone being 81.50 per ton over the average price in the Company's outstanding contracts fur Kuangtung stone,

would be $262,500 per annum which if capitalized at & per annum

would amount to $4,375,000. Representations to the Chinese Govern-

-went on this matter have been unavailing; and neither has the

embargo placed on the export of limestone been re..oved, nor heve

the Company's claims been paid.

6.

I venture to suggest for your consideration

that these matters are of sufficient importance to form conditions

of the recognition by llis Majesty's Government of such Goverment as is, or may hereafter be, established in China.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

"our most obedient,

humble servent,

Romag

Covernor,&C..