CO129-559-1 Canton - Hankow Railways 15-1-1936 - 23-6-1936 — Page 49

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doubt be reduced progressively in the course of a few

years to less than 24 hours, so that when the line from Hankow to Peiping is rehabilitated, it may be possible to

travel by rail from Hong Kong to Peiping in 2 days. Then

again the through route to Calais via Siberia, Moscow,

Warsaw and Berlin is not beyond the realms of possibility,

as the first 150 miles step towards changing to standard

the 5 0" gauge of the North Manomaria and the Russian

systems which extend from sinking to inak has already

been taken.

I am well

46. I am of opinion that the future prosperity of the Canton-Hankow Line must depend to a large extent on its connection to the Canton-Kowloon Railway. It in

axiomatic that at least one terminal of a successful trunk

line must be a regular port of call of ocean vessels,

In addition, the port must have well balanced traffic in

and out, suitable warehouses, and facilities which enable

vessels to turn round rapidly. The geographical position

as well as certain hydrographical features of Canton

preclude its fulfilling these requirements.

aware that plans exist for the conversion of hampea into

a deep water port, but I am strongly of opinion that they

may be dismissed as impracticable. The Port of Hong Kong

is the obvious terminal of the line and any political

prejudices which may axist with regard to the linking up

of the two lines, should be dispelled in due course by

economic necessity. My own observations lead me to believe

that a far more healthy atmosphere now exists in Canton

on the subject of constructing this loop and that it is

not beyond the realms of possibility that a complete volte-

face may occur among the anti-loop party in the near

future. A face saving proposal may be the provision of a

short branch to enable the new Locomotive Depot which is