CO129-539-13 Proposed transfer of Government Wireless Service to Imperial and International Communications Ltd. 11-4-1932 - 17-6-1933 — Page 73

ENCLOSURE.

57

Telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary

6. State for the Colonies. Dated 7th December. 1932.

H

(Received Colonial Office 6 a.m. 7th December, 1932).

No. 254 Confidential.

? 147 *

Your telegram No. 247 Confidential Wireless.

I consider it impossible to accept mere

deletion of Article IX which was agreed to by the Company

and by the Secretary of State see enclosure to Lord

Passfield's Confidential despatch of 25th August 1931

and must insist on clause providing for establishment

of radio-telegraphic and radio-telephonic service

with Great Britain within period of 24 months,

I cannot stress too strongly that this Colony

is not being afforded service to which it is

entitled

and failing above provisions I would prefer to break

off negotiations and to be allowed free hand to carry

out necessary extensions and developments.

The questi on

The future

of Empire subsidy introduces new factor and interests

of Hong Kong would demand fullest consideration before

local contributions could be promised.

position scems so uncertain that I feel in any event it

would be in the interests of Hong Kong that negotiations

should be broken off completely to be renewed only when

future position is clearer. But in that case Hong Kong

must be given free hand for development.

I.C.C. 1445.

2.