This Indenture, made the day of between OUR SOVEREIGN LADY VICTORIA, by the GRACE of GOD, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, of the one part, and of the other part.
Whereas by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, made and dated at Westminster, the Fifth day of April in the Sixth Year of the Reign of Her said Majesty, the Island of Hongkong and its Dependencies were erected into a Colony, and full power and authority to the Governor of the said Colony of Hongkong, for the time being, were given and granted in the Name of Her said Majesty, and on Her behalf (but subject nevertheless to such provisions as might be in that respect contained in any Instructions which might from time to time be addressed to him by Her said Majesty,) to make and execute, in the Name and on the behalf of Her said Majesty, under the Public Seal of the said Colony, grants of Land to Her said Majesty belonging, within the said Colony, to private persons for their own use and benefit, or to any Persons, Bodies, Politic or Corporate, in trust, for the public uses of Her said Majesty's Subjects there resident, or any of them; AND WHEREAS by certain other Letters Patent under the Great Seal as aforesaid, bearing date the day of in the Year of the Reign of Her said Majesty, was constituted and appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the said Colony of Hongkong, and its Dependencies; AND WHEREAS by certain Instructions of Her said Majesty, addressed to the then Governor of Hongkong, under Her said Majesty's Signet and Sign Manual, and dated the Sixth day of April, 1848, The said Governor was, amongst other things, instructed to grant Leases of the Land in the said Colony belonging to Her said Majesty; Now this Indenture witnesseth, that in consideration of the yearly rent, conditions and agreements hereinafter reserved and contained, by and on the part and behalf of the said , Executors, Administrators and Assigns, to be paid, done and performed, and also of the sum of Current Dollars, which are at this time a legal tender in the said Colony of Hongkong, in hand paid to the said use of Her said Majesty, by the said , at or before the Sealing and Delivery of these Presents, the Receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged; HER SAID MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA, Hath demised, leased, and to farm let, and by these presents Hath demise, lease and to farm let, unto the said , Executors, Administrators and Assigns, ALL that piece or parcel of Ground situate, lying and being at Victoria in the said Island of Hongkong,
together with all easements, profits, commodities and appurtenances whatsoever to the said demised premises belonging, or in any wise appertaining. EXCEPT AND ALWAYS RESERVED unto Her said Majesty, Her Heirs, Successors and Assigns, full power to resume and take possession of all or any part of the said piece or parcel of Ground hereby demised, if required for the improvement of the said Colony of Hongkong, or for any other public purpose whatsoever, Three Calendar Months notice being given to the Occupant thereof its being so required, and a fair and fair Compensation for the said Land and the Buildings thereon, being paid to the said , Heirs, Executors, Administrators or Assigns, at a valuation, to be fairly and impartially made by the Surveyor of Her said Majesty, Her Heirs, Successors or Assigns, and in which said valuation, the benefit to accrue to the said , Heirs, Executors, Administrators or Assigns, from any such improvement or public purpose shall be allowed by way of set-off against any Damage he or they may suffer from such resumption as aforesaid; EXCEPT AND RESERVED ALSO, all Mines, Minerals and Quarries of Stone in, under and upon the said premises, and all such Earth, Soil, Marl, Clay, Chalk, Brick-earth, Gravel, Sand, Stone and Stones, and other Earths or Materials, which now are or hereafter during the continuance of this demise, shall be under or upon the said premises, or any part or parts thereof, as Her said Majesty, Her Heirs, Successors and Assigns may require for the Roads, Public Buildings, or other Public Purposes of the said Colony of Hongkong; with full liberty of Ingress, Egress and Regress, to and for Her said Majesty, Her Heirs, Successors and Assigns, and Her and their Agents, servants and workmen, at reasonable times in the year during the continuance of this demise, with or without horses, carts, carriages and all other necessary