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1. The question of disposing of some of the property in possession of the War Department at Hong Kong is intimately connected with the question of the extension of the Praya, and both the War Department, the Admiralty, and the Colonial Government are interested in its solution.
Date. From To Subject. Page. 2nd Jan. 1889 Surveyor-General, Hong Kong. War Office Report enclosed with Governor's despatch, giving valuation of the various interests. 28 14th May 1889 Colonial Office. War Office Plans requested to facilitate consideration of the subject. 33 Hong Kong. Disposal of Land, &c. Hong Kong 11th June 1889 Colonial Office. War Office Tracing of plans forwarded 9th Dec. 1889 War Office Colonial Office. Disagreeing with proposals, and suggesting other arrangements. 83 4th March 1890 Colonial Office. War Office Setting forth Colonial rights, and requesting further information. 85 1st Nov. 1889 Admiralty War Office Requesting the refusal of any land War Department want to dispose of. 36 5th Dec. 1889 War Office Admiralty Plan sent, showing War Department property in Victoria proposed to be sold. 36 27th Dec. 1889 Admiralty War Office Transfer of site of North Barracks to Admiralty. 37 10th Jan. 1890 War Office Admiralty 37 17th Jun. 1890 Admiralty War Office Objections to contribution proposed by Committee, and refusal of funds. 335 28th Jan. 1890 War Office Treasury 38 28th Feb. 1890 Admiralty War Office 12th Oct. 1889 War Office Treasury Referring them to previous communications for the information wanted. 39 6th Nov. 1889 Colonial Office. War Office 6th Nov. 1889 Colonial Office. Treasury Forwarding copy of letter to Treasury respecting the Hong Kong military contribution. 40 26th March 1890 Treasury War Office Copy of letter above alluded to. 40 3rd April 1890 War Office Colonial Office. Right of sale possessed by Secretary of State for War. Forwarding copy of above letter, and requesting that instructions may be sent to colonies. 412. The Treasury have decided in their letter of the 28th September 1889, 13191 that the cost of providing new barracks at Hong Kong for the increased garrison should be met as far as possible by disposing of some of the land at present held by the War Department in that colony, and that the excess expenditure should be equally divided between the Imperial and Colonial Governments.
3. The interest of the War Department in the question of the disposal of land is that they should be enabled to realize such a sum by the operation as shall reduce the excess expenditure on barracks to the lowest possible amount. With regard to the extension of the Praya, the War Department have little, if any, interest in its being carried out, unless they can secure thereby a further diminution of the excess expenditure on the barracks.
The extension of the Praya is only too likely to bring with it an increase of sickness in the garrison for a time, and as the reclaimed land on either flank of the War Department property will naturally be built upon, it is to be apprehended that some of the War Department buildings will have a less airy salubrity, it is essential that the land which will be reclaimed by the formation of the Praya in front of the property retained by the War Department, should become the property of that department.
4. The interest of the Admiralty in the question under consideration depends on the decision which may be arrived at, as to whether the whole of the dockyard establishments shall be located at Kowloon, where there is greater depth of water than there is at their present naval yard at Victoria. Already some of the Admiralty establishments are at Kowloon, and if it is decided to concentrate them all at that place, the Admiralty will have no interest in the disposal of the land held by the War Department or in the extension of the Praya. If, however, the Admiralty establishments are not thus concentrated, it is understood that the present naval yard in Victoria will require considerable extension, which can be obtained laterally by the acquisition of some of the property at present held by the War Department, while the area could be further increased by the land which will be reclaimed by the formation of the Praya in front of those acquisitions and of the present naval yard. The Admiralty do not object to the formation of the Praya, but they have objected to contribute towards its cost, and have made it a condition of their consent to its formation, that it should be constructed in front of the naval yard so as to meet their requirements, and that the area reclaimed by it should become their property, and should be formed in part as a basin, with a specified depth of water, and with water communication to the harbour.
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