CO129-518-1 Chinese Telegraph Office in Hong Kong 28-6-1929 - 3-1-1930 — Page 29

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desired by this Government that the Superintendent

should be a business man or an expert in telegraphy,

and not a soldier or a professional politician.

5.

This Government does not regard a change

in the holder of the post of Luperintendent of the

Chinese Telegraph Office in Hong long as a petty

affair. On the contrary, we consider the matter

to be one of considerable importance, requiring very

careful handling on each occasion. It is altogether

anomalous that a telegraph office in a British colony

should be managed by a Chinese Superintendent appointed by the Chinese Government, and we look

forward to the time, as we hope not far distant, when

this Chinese Telograph Office in liong long may be

closed down altogether. I notice that a Reuter press message from Nanking, dated the 14th of November, 1929, reads as follows:- The inistry of

Communications is floating ten million dollars in communication bonds for re-organizing the Chinese

Telegraph, cable and telephone system. Tart of the

bonds will be used for taking over the Great

Northern and Great Eastern cable interesis in China

in 1930. The inistry is making arrangements with

Shanghai bankers as reg. rds the bonus". information is correct, then it would seem that the raison d'être for tolerating the existence of a Chinese Telegraph office in Hong Mong may disappear next year; for, if British cable interests in Chine are taken over by the Chinese Government, there can be no reason why a Chinese Telegraph Office should e continue to be maintained in a british colony. should be glad to know as soon as possible what are

If this

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the