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of the Report of the Committee on Colonial Military Contributions, and in which is given the further information as to the sale of property at Hong Kong asked for by their Lordships.
Mr. Secretary Stanhope notes that their Lordships accept in principle the proposed sale of property, and decide that the cost of the increased barrack accommodation, beyond what can be met by the proceeds of the sale, shall be shared equally between the colony and the War Department.
With regard to the last paragraph of the letter under reply, I am to observe that the "erection of buildings" includes the cost of all fixed furniture, but that the cost of movable furniture, such as bedsteads, bedding, tables, forms, brushes, &c., is included in the general estimate of the annual cost of the garrison, on which basis the amount of the Colonial military contribution is fixed.
I am to state that it is considered that, as far as sites can be provided on Crown lands, the colony should provide, free of cost, any sites that may be required for the new barracks; but that, should it be necessary to purchase any small plots of ground to supplement such sites, the purchase money should be dealt with as part of the cost of the erection of the barracks, which is to be shared equally by the War Department and the colony, as far as it is not met by proceeds of the sale of property.
I have, &c.,
W. ST. JOHN BRODRICK.
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Admiralty the use for naval purposes of a large piece of the reclaimed land, valued at 156,792 dollars. This portion of the work is estimated to cost 300,000 dollars, and the reclamations in front of the military cantonments are estimated to cost 320,000 dollars. The land which would be added to the cantonments is valued at 1,325,856 dollars.
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Should the colony acquire the sites named in paragraph 10 of your letter. 88 of the 28th September last, it would retain the reclaimed land in front of them; but the remaining cantonments would still receive a very large addition of land, and unless the military authorities bear a share of the cost of the work, the colony may fairly claim, in connection with the question of sites and new barracks, that their outlay for the direct advantage of Her Majesty's naval and military forces should be considered as an important contribution to the defence of the colony.
I am, &c.,
The Secretary to the Treasury.
J. BRAMSTON
The Secretary to the Treasury, S.W.
Colonial Office to War Office.
3846
90
Sir,
Treasury to War Office.
Treasury Chambers,
26th March 1890.
Sir,
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171
Colonial Office, Downing Street,
6th November 1889.
With reference to the letter from this department of the 17th ultimo, enclosing copy of a letter addressed to the Treasury regarding the Hong Kong military contribution, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to acquaint you that the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have forwarded to this department a copy of their letter to the War Office of
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the 12th October, Sy, and I am to request you to lay before Mr. Secretary Stanhope, the enclosed copy of a further letter to that department, relative to the provision of barrack accommodation, &c., in Hong Kong.
The Under Secretary of State, War Office.
Sir,
I am, &c.,
JOHN BRAMSTON.
Colonial Office to Treasury.
Colonial Office, Downing Street,
15171
"'" 89
6th November 1889.
of the 12th ultimo, I am directed by Lord Knutsford
In reply to your letter to request you to inform the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, that as his Lordship has not seen the previous correspondence between the Treasury and the War Office, he can offer no opinion upon the letter to the War Office of the 12th ultimo, on the subject of barrack and hospital accommodation at Hong Kong, copy of which accompanied your letter under acknowledgment.
There is, however, another matter which well deserves the consideration of the Lords Commissioners in connection with the demands for a contribution to new barracks. For many years the colony has been anxious to carry out a great public improvement, by reclaiming a portion of the harbour in front of the naval yard and the military buildings, and by carrying a roadway over the reclaimed land to connect the eastern and western portions of the city, which are now separated by the military and naval property, while access from one part to the other is very inconvenient, and owing to the configuration of the hill, can only be maintained by means of one narrow road. The scheme has hitherto been frustrated by the opposition of the Imperial departments, but it is unnecessary to trouble their Lordships further with the past history of the affair.
The scheme has now taken a fresh shape, in which it has been accepted by the Admiralty, and is still under the consideration of the War Office. It is proposed not only to improve the naval yard itself by the creation of a basin inside the new sea wall, and thus to give the naval authorities access to deep water, but also to concede to the
The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have had before them your letter of the 8th instant, in explanation of the general recommendations made by the Colonial Military Contributions Committee, in paragraphs 53 to 63 of their Report on Colonial Military Crown Lands and Buildings.
I am to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Stanhope, that my Lords are glad to learn that paragraphs 54, 55, and 56 of the report do not refer to lands or buildings acquired or erected at the charge of Imperial funds.
As regards the reservation of the right of sale of colonial military Crown lands and buildings to private individuals, my Lords, in view of the doubt whether such a right is possessed by the Secretary of State in ordinary cases, will not press for any specific reservation on the subject; but, inasmuch as the right may exist in particular cases, my Lords think it would be inexpedient to make any such binding declaration respecting the future mode of dealing with colonial military Crown lands and buildings as would bar the Secretary of State from using the right should circumstances make it equitable to do so. They hope the Secretary of State will keep this precaution in mind in generally adopting the recommendations of the Committee, and communicating their substance to Colonial Governments.
Where the rights of sale to private persons is not possessed by the Secretary of State, my Lords agree that the lands and buildings in question could only be used for the adjustment of outstanding claims against the colony, with the consent of the Colonial Government, or by the War Department refusing to surrender the property until the claims had been settled. No special reservation, therefore, seems to be necessary on this point.
The Financial Secretary, War Office.
Sir,
I am, &c.,
R. E. WELBY.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office,
3rd April 1890.
I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the copy of a letter from the Treasury in reply to the letter addressed to that department on the 8th ultimo, of which letter a copy was sent to you on the 11th ultimo, and to inform you that note has been taken of the point raised by the Treasury with regard to the reservations of the rights which the Secretary of State for War may possibly be found to possess, in particular cases, so that such rights may be exercised in the event of its ever becoming feasible and necessary to exercise them.
I am now to request that you will be good enough to take the necessary steps to inform the various colonies concerned of the arrangements agreed upon with regard to the disposal of colonial military lands and buildings no longer required for military
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