30
But, in addition to these, a considerable number of new married quarters are required in consequence of the increase in the Hong Kong garrison authorized by the Cabinet.
28 quarters have therefore to be built in addition to the 42 quarters to be replaced, and it is considered that, under present circumstances, 30,0007, is not too much to allow for the whole number.
As regards the last paragraph of the letter now under reply, I am to observe that it is difficult, until contracts shall have been entered into, to state exactly to what extent the estimate of 50,6001. for barracks to be provided in lieu of those to be sold will be exceeded; but that, in any case, it is anticipated that the amount will be far less than the sum realized by the sale of the barracks, as the value of land is increasing greatly in Hong Kong.
I am to add that, in the meantime, arrangements cannot be made for the sale of the land, nor can the increased garrison be accommodated until the barracks shall have been built.
Mr. Secretary Stanhope, therefore, trusts that their Lordships will give an early decision on the proposals in question, which have now been for a long time under consideration.
W. ST. JOHN BRODRICK.
31
prepared in this country for part of the whole scheme, including some accommodation for an increase of the garrison, and the estimate is 30,0001. for 70 married quarters, or about 4297. each, und 10,000l. for one-half battery instead of two. My Lords can feel no security that, when the plans have reached Hong Kong, modifications may not prove necessary, which will lead to a yet further increase of the expense. They do not know whether it is possible to devise any safeguard against such uncertainties; but they think it right to bring the facts to the notice of the Secretary of State.
My Lords give their covering sanction for the commencement of the works in question, at a total estimated cost of 40,0001.
But they would be glad if, in future, the character of the estimate sub- mitted could be more precisely stated, so that my Lords might know whether they were considering only the rough preliminary guess, or the approximate estimate before plans, or the finished estimate after plans, or the results of any later stage of experience, and how far the estimate is for only part, or for the whole of a scheme.
My Lords must also strongly urge upon the Secretary of State that no further contracts should be entered into for works at coaling stations, without the previous approval of this department. If this rule be observed, their Lordships will undertake that no delay shall occur, on their part, in giving immediate attention to all pressing cases.
R. E. WELBY.
189
LANDS.
No. 21.
T. No. 2121
Sir,
Treasury to War Office.
Treasury Chambers,
The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have had before
15th February, 1890. them your letter of the 6th instant, in further explanation of the barrack works 90 at Hong Kong, for which Mr. Secretary Stanhope has ordered contracts to Hong Kong be entered into in anticipation of my Lords' covering sanction.
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My Lords are aware of the difficulties that have prevented the preparation, as yet, of anything like a complete programme of expenditure under Head 3, "Barracks at Coaling Stations," of Schedule 2 of the Imperial Defence Act, 1888. The War Department is still unaware of the amount of the proceeds of sales and Colonial Contributions that will be at their disposal for expenditure under this head, in addition to the 350,0007 named in the Act as the amount that be spent out of the loan,
may
The estimate of total requirements made in 1888 was 764,0007., leaving no less than 414,000%. to be met from the uncertain resources above indicated. Moreover, if all works were postponed at each station until a complete plan had been framed for the particular station concerned, the strengthening of the garrison would be delayed. My Lords therefore are reluctantly submitting to the receipt of piecemeal estimates, first for part of the works at one station and then for part of the works at another, with only a distant prospect of finality. This method of procedure is unbusiness-like, but perhaps inevitable, and, as already pointed out to the War Department in my Lords' letter of 22nd November, 1888,
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is almost certain to lead to an excess over the Parlia- 88 mentary division.
My Lords have been led to make these remarks by the more than ordinary variations that have distinguished the estimates for Hong Kong. In June, 1888, the Inspector-General of Fortifications formed a very rough estimate of the cost of replacing accommodation, if certain premises were sold; it was a round sum of 50,0001, without any details, and was quite independent of the cost of accommodating any increase of the garrison. In January, 1889, came a detailed estimate for the same service, which had been framed on the spot. It amounted to 50,600%, and comprised (adding 10 per cent, for contingencies) 16,5001. for 42 married quarters (or about 3931. each), and 11,0001, for barracks for two half batteries. Again in July, 1889, an estimate of 50,000l. was sub- mitted, for barrack and hospital accommodation. Now, plans have been
LANDS.
Sir,
No. 22.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street,
9th May, 1890. With reference to the correspondence which has passed on the subject of the extension of the Prayas at Hong Kong, in front of the North Barracks and Naval Yard, I am directed by Lord Kuutsford to state, for the consideration of Mr. Secretary Stanhope, that Sir G. W. Des Vœux, who is now in England, has laid before this department a proposal for settling the question which would seem to be free from some of the objections which have been urged against previous suggestions, and which deserves the most serious attention, if indeed it has not already been brought directly to the notice of the War Office.
Hong Kong
2. It is argued by Sir W. Des Voeux that as long as the Naval Yard is in its present situation, the plan of carrying the Praya Road in front of it must be abandoned, owing to the steepness of the gradient at that part where it passed over the tunnel into the proposed naval boat basin, and it is suggested that the War Office should be invited to surrender to the Colonial Government all the lands at present held by the military authorities, in Hong Hong and Kowloon, except those occupied by and in the immediate neighbourhood of forts, and should receive in exchange a large area of land on Causeway Bay, and on the slopes above it, together with a reclamation from the harbour extending beyond the recent reclamation in the bay in question, to the breakwater, which forms the present boat refuge from Typhoons. Further, that the Colonial Government should agree, in consideration of the greater value of the land acquired in the centre of the town and at Kowloon, to make the necessary reclamation, to provide a new boat refuge elsewhere, and to erect free of charge all the buildings required by the military for their various establishments, including accommodation for the additional troops which are to be added to the garrison.
3. In the contemplated area at Causeway Bay, there is said to be space sufficient not only for all military purposes but also for all the requirements of the Navy, and the scheme in its entirety includes the provision, in the same locality, of all the naval establishments now existing in Victoria and Kowloon. It is understood, however, that Admiral Sir Nowell Salmon has raised an
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