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These are considerations whick Sir Hercules Robinson thinks should influence
any decision as to the source from which future expenditure upon the present Sea wall should be drawn, and they do not appear to him to be weakened or in any way affected by the question raised by you as to whether the Government is not more responsible than the Tenants for the bad work of the past.
Should considerable outlay be necessary on the reconstruction of the present Sea wall, as it could not be made from the ordinary Revenues of the Colony, a special tax would have to be imposed, and the imposition of it would rest with the Legislature,-who would have to determine whether it should be borne by the Marine Lot Holders, the Public at large, or by both in certain proportions.
His Excellency the Governor, although not at present inclined to force the extension of the Praya where it is not desired, will not refuse to do so where it is shown that the great bulk of the Lot Holders wish it--u large majority of the Chinese Tenants to the Westward (a body even more numerous than that you represent) have expressed their decided approval of the Govermnent proposition, and as the wall in that locality is in a somewhat dilapidated state-directions for reclaiming Land in front of these Lots to the extent of 130 feet if practicable, will be at once issued. I have, &c.
(Signed,)
W. H. RENNIE, for the Colonial Secretary.
the
The Committee of Marine Lot Holders to
Honorable W. T. Mercer, Esq., Colonial Secretary.
HONGKONG, 18th November, 1864.
SIR-We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, in reply to ours of the 1st idem, wherein you announce the present conclusion come to by His Excellency the Governor in reference to the question of the reconstruction of the Praya, namely, that the extension will not be enforced where not desired by the Lot Holders, and we have to express our thanks for the consideration thus evinced.
In concluding this correspondence we have however to record our emphatic dissent from the implication conveyed in the second and third points to which you especially allude, and which would lead to the in- ference that the Marine Lot Holders exercised control over the expen- diture in connection with the formation of the Praya, on this point we have only to say that as far as our knowledge goes, in no case was there
limit to outlay made.
any
We are now about to lay this corresponce before the Tenants whom we represent. We have, &c.
(Signed,)
Committee appointed
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on behalf of the Ma--
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rine Lot Holders.
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FRANCIS CHOMLEY. GEORGE J. HELLAND. JOHN S. LAPRAIK. ROBERT BRAND. GEORGE F. MACLEAN.
T. G. LINSTEAD.
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