CO129-524-4 Chinese Telegraph Office in Hong Kong 30-12-1929 - 9-12-1930 — Page 66

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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 ohange

in the holder of the post of Superintendent of the

Chinese Telegraph Office in Hong Kong as a petty

affair. On the contrary, we consider the matter

to be one of considerable importance, requiring very

osreful 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, this Chinese Telegraph Office in Hong Kong may be closed down altogether. I notice that a Reuter press message from Nanking, dated the 14th. of November 1929, reads as follows:- "The Ministry of Communications is floating ten million dollars in

communication bonds for reorganising the Chinese

telegraph, cable and telephone system.

when

Part of the

bonds will be used for taking over the Great

If this

Northern and Great Eastern cable interests in China

in 1930. The Ministry is making arrangements with

Shanghai bankers as regards the bonds", information is correct, then it would seem that the raison d'etre for tolerating the existence of a Chinese Telegraph Office in Hongkong may disappear next year; for, if British cable interests in China are taken over by the Chinese Government, there can be no reason why a Chinese Telegraph Office should

I continue to be maintained in a British colony. should be glad to know as soon as possible what are

/ the