of indemnity.
On the meantime he stated that he would place all the land required at the disposal of the Royal Engineers pending final settlement as to indemnity. On the 19th of May 1885 Mr Price applied for authority to pay the indemnities referred to
adding
that he was unable to say whether a special vote would be required or whether the $7,691 formed part and parcel of large grant already voted by the Legislature for Defence purposes.
On this letter the Colonial Secretary (Mr. Marsh) placed the following Minute:-
"The Council having in December last voted $55,625 required as the contribution of this Colony to the effective defence of Hong Kong, I submit that such sum should be paid for the resumption of land required for the construction of Defence Works and charged against this sum. The resumption of such land is made solely for the purposes of Defence Works.
Upon this Minute the Governor (Sir G. F. Bowen) endorsed,
I agree with Mr Marsh. Take action accordingly.
#7
Instructions were issued to the Surveyor General to pay the indemnities and charge the cost to the Defence Contribution Fund.
#8.
The lessees of Inland Lots 670 and 672 accepted the sums offered to them amounting to $4,411 while the Lessee of Inland Lot 671 refused the amount offered in his case and it has not been paid.