CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5] — Page 528

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they have in mind", he writes," are the completion of the Canton -Hankow Railway, a railway to Chaochow near Swatow, the development of the Whampoa Port, and as a sop to Hong Kong

they would consent to throw in the loop line to connect the Hanow and Kowloon railways”.

9.

Such being the present position, I venture to

submit that there is no projected scheme in China upon which

a portion of the Boxer Indemnity funds under the control of

His Majesty's Government could be spent with such certainty of

benefit to British interests as upon the construction of

this short and inexpensive junction-line, and I earnestly hope that you may be able to arrange that an allocation should be made from the Boxer Indemnity funds for this purpose. If

this is done, I should endeavour to seize a favourable

moment for taking the matter up with the Canton Government and securing the construction of this long-delayed work,

I would further advise that, unless the Canton Government

itself should express a strong opinion in favour of Mr. Boothby's or Mr. Foord's alignment, it would be prudent to recommend that the junction line should be located as originally proposed by Mr. Grove, seeing that 90% of the

land for this aligment has already been purchased by the

authorities of the Canton Hankow Railway.

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I have the honour to be,

Sir, [

Your most obedient mable servant,

Governor, &c.