JOHN SWIRE & SONS LTD.
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS, TEMSELOAF, FEN, LONDON.
TELEPHONE.
MONUMENT 3041.
Ace. Mr. Cowelli
muute on
82746/34
Dear Sir,
R
10JAN 1933
COL. OFFICE
ACKD. BY P.C.
139/
8, Billiter Square,
London 9th
Marine Rights at Hong Kong
9th January 1933
E.C.3.
With reference to Mr. G.W. Swire's call upon you
on November 10th, the following extracts from letters recently to hand from our Hong Kong Office and the Manager of the Taikoo Dockyard will doubtless be of interest to
you:-
From Butterfield & Swire, Hong Kong
"The Chamber of Commerce is taking the stand that the Bill should not be proceeded with as the enactment of general legislation of the type proposed infringes too much upon the common law rights of riparian owners and the special rights which certain owners possess by express contract with the Government. We have discussed this with the principal parties concerned and they all feel strongly with regard thereto. Mr. Paterson (Direc- tor of Jardine, Matheson & Co. Hong Kong) who is on the Legislative Council, tells us that he has tried hard to convince the Government to change their views but so far they are not inclined to do so.
"The special point of the danger of an Ordinance of this kind reacting upon the position of fron- tage rights in China has also been discussed be- tween the chief members of the Chamber of Commerce Committee concerned, and the Government are being approached confidentially upon this aspect of the Bill.
"We have had various talks with Mr. Greig (Manager of our Dockyard at Quarry Bay) about the effect specific reclamation works in our area might have on the tide and depth of water along our frontage,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.