Formagi
Office
885
and not bid for, to their afterwards being at once disposed of to any applicant at the same upset price, unless the Governor should see special reason to suppose that they ought again to be submitted to Auction.
Whether or not to have fixed periodical sales irrespective of the existence of any previous applicants, is a question to which it may be well to draw the Governor's attention, upon which it does not appear to us that there are at present the means of forming a judgment in this Country. But unless there exist a real demand by bona fide Settlers, we are inclined to think that such sales might do more harm than good; that they might bid to depreciate the public property and perhaps also produce the evil of land-jobbing.
Under the present circumstances of Hong Kong, and until experience shall supply more certain data to act upon, we feel that we could not with propriety do more than suggest for Lord Stanley's consideration, that the foregoing outline may be communicated to the Governor for his information and guidance upon the important subject of the disposal of Land.
We have the honor to be
Your obedient
humble Servant
Theta Elliot Warken befrien
(Alexander Wood)