C OP Y.
Sir,
Hongkong, 3rd. October, 1917.
55
You will recollect that early in the year Sir Paul Chater had some conversation with yourself and Mr.
Jamieson, our Consul-General at Canton, on the subject of
mining concessions in the Kwang Tung Province, when he nd-
-voented the desirability of our obtaining such from the
Chinese Government.
How that China has entered the field and
declared war upon Germany, the time has come, in our opinion,
when a very strenuous effort should be made through our
Minister in Poking, to secure to ourselves here in Hongkong
the rights of Prospecting and Mining, particularly for conl,
in such districts as the East and North River Valleys, a ni
the Delta of the West and Pearl river Districts, which we
have very reason to believe are rich in minerals of all
sorts.
That Hongkong is from its proximity to ad
ita railway facilities with Canton the spot par excellence
from which such work aan best be undertaken there can be no
doubt; and that such Rights once required and put in working
order would bring increased prosperity to the Colony, while
at the same time benefitting enormously Chinn herself is so
obvious as to need no emphasis.
Take one instance alone, Cord. How tremendous-
-ly the acquisition of coal mining rights in our close neighbourhood would stimulate manufacture of all kinds in
the Colony, benefitting our railway by its carriage over
their lines, bringing in its train increased population, and therewith increased prosperity to merchants of all classes by the necessary incense in supplies required of food-
-stuffs,
No comments yet.
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