CO129-434 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [7-8] — Page 393

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REG2 15 SEP 16

Colonial Secretary's Office,

Hongkong, 28th June, 1916.

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL,

Sir,

388

I am directed to transmit for the Confidential inform-

ation of the Committee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce the enclosed copy of a letter from the China Export Import & Bank Company, Hamburg. to their branch at Kobe, Japan, on the subject of the creation in German interests of a deep water Port at Whampoa, together with copies of Memoranda on the scheme by H.B.M's Minister at Peking and H.B.M's Consul-General at Canton, and a report dated August, 1908, by Lieutenant-Commanders Walcott and Tickell, R.N. on the feasibility of creating such a Port.

There is no doubt that a little time ago before the Chinese Provincial and Central Authorities were occupied with intern- al dissensions, the project of creating a port as a rival to Hongkong had great attractions for both those authorities, and in the opinion of the Governor it is still a danger to be reckoned with.

It is for this reason that this Government loses no opportunity of pressing for the realisation of the proposed junction of the Kowloon-Canton Railway with the Canton-Hankow-Railway, and of other advantages for the Port of Hongkong which she can obtain from China.

I am, etc.,

(SD.)

Claud Severn

Colonial Secretary.

The Secretary,

Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.