CO129-617-2 Hong Kong Telephone Company 22-2-1947 - 3-11-1947 — Page 18

Telephone :

TEMPLE BAR 1222.

Telen ruphic Address:

"EMPIREGRAM, ESTRAND, LONDON"

Cable and Wireless Limited,

18

9

Electra House, Victoria Embankment,

London.

WC2. 12. 3rd September, 47.

4 SEP Rect 631

ALL COMMUNICATIONS

TO BE ADDRESSED TO

THE CHAIRMAN

THE REFERENCE AND DATE OF

THIS LETTER BEING QUOTED

TM/H.1/la.

W. J. Bigg, Esq.,

Colonial Office,

Church House, London, S.W.1.

Dear Bigg,

When Major-General L. B. Nicholls was in Hong Kong recently the Managing Director of the Hong Kong Telephone Company suggested to him that Cable and Wireless might consider the purchase of an interest in the Telephone Company. We do not know whether he made the suggestion on his own initiative or whether it originated with another party.

We should explain, perhaps, that we are interested in the Hong Kong Telephone Company to the extent that they will provide the connections between the public and our radiotelephone terminal for oversea calls.

We have not yet decided whether it would be useful for us to acquire an interest in the Telephone Company but before going further into the matter we should like to know whether you have any views on the subject and whether you consider the Hong Kong Government should be consulted. If the answer to the latter point is in the affirmative would you please say whether you would prefer to take action through the Colonial Office or whether the Company should approach the Governor.

Yours sincerely,

Janne

Managing Director.