CO129-507-9 Chinese Telegraph Office- Hong Kong- transfer to Cantonese control 4-1-1928 - 20-7-1928 — Page 99

Copy.

Sir,

H.B.M. Consulate General,

Canton.

March 22nd, 1928.

99

With reference to the question of the Chinese

telegraph Office in Hong Kong, I have the honour to inform

you that I have received a letter from the Governor of

Hong Kong stating that His Excellency is now prepared to

put into effect the arrangement agreed on at the interview

which he had with Marshal Li Chai-sum on March 10th.

You will remember that the arrangement was that

the Canton Government should send a Cantonese merchant to

Hong Kong to be manager of the office, such merchant to be

persona grata to the Hong Kong Government and not an official

and the title of the post to be "Commercial Agent in charge of the Chinese Telegraph Office in Hong Kong"(

駐港

).

His Excellency requests me to say that he will be

glad to learn as soon as possible whom the Canton Government proposes to nominate for this appointment and when he may be expected to arrive in Hong Kong. Directly the Hong Kong

and Canton Governments have agreed on the nominee for this

office, Mr. Lau Cheuk Pan (

), the present

telegraph superintendent will be told that he cannot be permitted to function any longer in Hong Kong and at the same time the Hong Kong authorities will instal the new nominee as "Commercial Agent", giving him such police

protection as may be necessary.

The Commissioner for Foreign Affairs,

CANTO N.

The