CO129-459 - Individuals - 1919 — Page 570

11, The Drive,

Golder's Green. N.W.4.

20th

May 1919.

560

t

The Under Secretary of State,

The Colonial Office.

Sir,

30616

RESP

Rec 22 MAY 19

Hong Kong South Develo Rent Scheme.

Greve

In reply to your letter 28341/1919 of the 15th, instant, which I thank you, I have the honour to request that I may be informed at the earliest possible date :-

for

(a) What financial provisions will be accepted by the

Government of Hong Kong, and

(b) What modifications, if any, are proposed in the

Agreement and the reasons.

Upon receipt of this information the matter will be given immediate consideration.

2. The Promoters trust it is not necessary to enter into any discussion with the Government as to the Government's moral obligations concerning this matter. The facts are so patent that there can be no question that public faith has been pledged. After the fullest enquiry the Promoters were informed that the Agreement was approved subject only to the Promoters satisfying the Government of their financial proposals. For war reasons definite financial undertakings of this kind had perforce to be deferred but it was considered that the letter of the National Electric Construction Company dated 20th, June 1918, would satisfy the Government in view of this Company's excellent standing and powerful financial backing. Whilst therefore the Promoters cannot concur in any degree with any possible repudiation of the Hong Kong Government of moral liability they are anxious to learn exactly what the Government desire, though they consider no useful purpose can be served by reconsidering matters which were very fully and carefully thrashed out over a period of many months by Officials of unrivalled experience of the Colony and its requirements and whose conclusions were unanimously acclaimed by the Press and confirmed and approved after discussion by the Legislative Council and consideration by the Secretary of State.

3. Once again, Sir, thanking you for your good offices and submitting that the information desired in the first paragraph may be obtained by telegraph.

*_4

I

am

Your obedient servant,

E. 1. Williams

7.5. Y

desired the Promoters would be ponpared to defray the out of telegrams.

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