No. 922.
SIR,
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(14.)
(Colonial Secretary to Mr. Chater.)
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 7th July, 1888.
I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated 4th July, conveying information of the result of the recent meeting of marine lot- holders.
While the unanimity of the lot-holders is so far satisfactory that it would render comparatively easy the carrying out of the proposed scheme of Reclamation by means of private funds, His Excellency desires me to point out that this unani- mity must not be regarded as settling the question either as to the permission of the contemplated Reclamation or, if it be permitted, as to the mode of carrying it out. As mentioned in my letter of 23rd ultimo, the final decision on these two points rests with Her Majesty's Government. The view taken on the first will probably depend on the advice of the marine engineers who may be consulted on the subject; and the judgment on the second will no doubt be largely influenced by legal opinions obtained with respect to the rights of the marine lot-holders.
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His Excellency deems it right to repeat thus emphatically his reference to the necessity of sanction by Her Majesty's Government, not merely because some passages in your letter seem to imply inadequate appreciation of this requisite con- dition, but in order to preclude losses from speculative land purchases made in the belief that that is certain which is by no means certain.
I am to add that whatever may be the ultimate decision, the part which you have taken in initiating the scheme, and the fact of the preliminary surveys having been at the expense of the lot-owners will not of course be omitted from consider- ation.
The Honourable C. P. CHATER.
I have, &c.,
FREDERICK STEWART, Colonial Secretary.
(15.)
Minute by the Governor for the Surveyor General respecting the Praya Reclamation Scheme.
1. In my minute for the letter of the Colonial Secretary to Mr. CHATER, dated 23rd June, 1888, I expressed a doubt whether Her Majesty's Government may not be of opinion that this work should be done by the Government for its own benefit, and the more I think of the subject the more doubtful I become on this point, and the less certain I am that they would be justified in sanctioning the scheme on the terms proposed, at least without the requirement of a large premium per acre from the frontage lot-owners. As I believe the Surveyor General entertains strong views in favour of the proposed scheme as a whole, including the remission of premium. I should be glad to receive a clear statement of his view, with the object of re- moving my doubts, before the meeting of lot-owners takes place.
2. The only reason that appears to me against the undertaking of the work by the Government, is the speculative nature of the project, and the elements of uncertainty which render it speculative appear to be three :-(1.)-The cost of the execution of the work, (2.)-the value of the land to be reclaimed, and (3.)-the amount of compensation which would have to be paid to the owners of the existing frontage.