THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, DECEMBER 6, 1935.
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4. In whose custody now are such pictures, porcelain and pottery and what steps are being taken by the Government for the preservation and housing of them and for the enjoyment of the inspection of them by the public?
The Colonial Secretary replied as follows:-
1. The answer is in the affirmative. The terms are that "Marble Hall" shall be used as the official residence of the British Naval Commander-in-Chief and that the Admiralty shall maintain it and keep it in proper repair at their own expense and shall return it to the Hong Kong Government in good order and condition, should they cease to use it as the Admiralty House" of this Colony. No rent is charged.
2. The sanction of the Secretary of State but not of the Legislative Council
or Finance Committee was obtained in 1927.
3. Clause 4 of the First Codicil to the Will of the late Sir PAUL CHATER reads
as follows:-
"WHEREAS by Clause Twenty-two of my said Will I have declared that my wife shall be entitled to live rent free in my residence at Victoria aforesaid known as 'Marble Hall' if she desires to do so and in such event the said residence and the furniture fixtures and house- hold effects in about or belonging to the same other than my collection of china referred to in Clause Twenty-five of my said Will shall not be disposed of by my Trustees until my wife shall cease to live in such residence NOW I HEREBY DECLARE that upon my wife ceasing to reside at Marble Hall aforesaid or dying THEN AND IN THAT EVENT I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH the said Marble Hall and the furniture fixtures and household effects (but not including the china and curios referred to in Clause Twenty-four of my said Will) together with all my racing cups and the whole of my collection of porcelain and pottery in the said Marble Hall (but not including the china and curios referred to in Clause Twenty-four of my said Will) to the Government of Hong Kong absolutely".
It will be noted that the bequest is an absolute bequest to the Government and the Government is unaware that the Testator made any qualification of the bequest, or expressed any wish that the property should be devoted to any particular purpose, or indicated a desire to fetter in any manner the Government's right to dispose of the property or any part thereof in any manner in which it might think fit.
are.
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4. The "Chater Collection of Pictures is distributed between Government House, Government Offices and the University. They can be seen at any time on application being made to the authority in whose care they The "Porcelain Collection" is stored in strong rooms and is not at present open to public inspection. The Government, as at present advised, intends to house the Porcelain and Picture Collections, so far as may be possible, in the proposed new City Hall. It is hoped that they will ultimately be housed in a Museum but the finances of the Colony do not permit of the expectation that an adequate museum can be built in the near future. The Collection of Pictures is checked half-yearly. This check will now be extended to the Porcelain Collection.
REPORTS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
6. The Colonial Secretary laid on the table the Reports of the Finance Committee (Nos. 14 and 15), dated the 24th October, 1935, and 14th November, 1935, and moved their adoption.
The Colonial Treasurer seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.