HONGKONG.
CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING PROPOSAL TO REMOVE THE NAVAL YARD.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.
HONGKONG, 9th April, 1903.
No. 25
SIR, On the 26th ultimo you were good enough to receive a Deputation composed of representatives of the various Commercial interests in this Colony when the question of the proposed new Admiralty Dock was discussed and when as Chairman of the Deputation I had the honour to inform Your Excellency that we proposed to draw up a petition to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies praying that a Royal Commission be appointed to consider the whole question relating to the dock.
In
consequence of the unanimous support this movement has received from all sections of the Hongkong Community a petition has now been prepared and though the time at our disposal has been limited signatures have been readily obtained including those of all classes and nationalities represented here and embracing most, if not all, of the leading business firms in the Colony.
I have now the honour to hand Your Excellency this petition with the request that you will be pleased to forward it to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies and would further ask that Your Excellency be good enough, as soon as possible, to telegraph a summary of the petition to London.
In conclusion I would beg on behalf of this Community to express our grati- tude for the kindly sympathy Your Excellency has shown to us in this matter and to express the hope that with your able assistance the great improvement for the Colony advocated in our petition may be carried out.
1903
His Excellency
I have, etc.,
C. P. CHATER, Chairman.
Sir HENRY A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.,
&c.,
fc.
HONGKONG, April 4th, 1903.
To the Right Honourable THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES,
LONDON.
The humble petition of the undersigned residents in the Colony
of Hongkong on behalf of the Community
RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH that your petitioners desire to bring to your notice the following facts concerning a matter of great moment to the Colony and one which has a very direct bearing on its future advancement and prosperity.
2. We refer to the question of the Admiralty Dock now under construction and the contemplated extension of the Naval Yard.