Gen. No. 8
1102
No. 9.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street,
29th September, 1890.
I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit herewith a copy of the circular despatch, dated 9th June, addressed by his Lordship to certain Colonies.
40 & 41 Vic., cap. 23.
Sir,
EDWARD WINGFIELD.
Enclosure in No. 9.
Circular.
Downing Street,
9th June, 1890.
I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information and guidance, unless you have any serious objection of principle to urge against the proposal, a memorandum agreed upon by the War Office, the Treasury, and the Colonial Office, with regard to the disposal whenever occasion may arise of Colonial military Crown lands and buildings no longer required for defence purposes.
To Officers Administering.
Sub-Enclosure in No. 9.
Disposal of Colonial Military Lands and Buildings.
KNUTSFORD.
1. With regard to the general question of Colonial military lands and buildings, it is assumed that all such lands and buildings are held by the Secretary of State for War for purposes connected with Colonial defence, and that the Secretary of State represents the Crown in all matters pertaining to their military administration.
2. The military authorities, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, should, therefore, in communication with Colonial Governments, deal with Colonial military lands and buildings in such manner as may best secure-
(1.) The efficient execution of the special service to which the lands and buildings are devoted.
(2.) The general interests of the Colony.
3. On account of the changing conditions of warfare, it not unfrequently occurs that Colonial lands and buildings set apart for military purposes cease to be necessary, or suitable, to their purpose, while, at the same time, or subsequently, other lands and buildings have to be acquired to meet the necessities of the garrison.
4. It is therefore considered that all such military properties and their values should be treated as part of a capital sum devoted to defensive purposes, and that, when they are disposed of by sale, or by transfer to the Civil Government, their realized or estimated values should, as hereinafter detailed, be retained by the Colonial Governments, and be held by them available towards the provision of such other lands and buildings as it may subsequently be necessary to acquire for defensive purposes.
5. In Colonies garrisoned by Imperial troops, when military lands or buildings, other than such as may have been purchased and paid for by the Imperial Government, are no longer required for military service, either immediately or prospectively, it is recommended that they should be surrendered to the Colonial Government, subject to the following conditions:-
(1.) If the Colony wishes to retain them for civil purposes their value should be settled by agreement between the local civil and military authorities, or by competent surveyors, as may be considered most desirable.
When other lands or buildings for the garrison have to be provided, the agreed value of the surrendered lands or buildings should be contributed by the Colony towards the cost of providing the new lands or buildings.
If no such new lands or buildings are required at the time, the value of the surrendered lands or buildings should be retained by the Colonial Government until other lands or buildings are required for the garrison, when the value of the surrendered lands and buildings should be contributed by the Colony towards their cost.
(2.) If the Colony does not wish to retain the lands or buildings, they should be surrendered by the military authorities to the Colonial Government for sale, the proceeds of the sale being dealt with in the same manner as provided for in the case of the value of lands retained by the Colony, i.e., if other lands or buildings are being provided for military purposes, the sums realized should be taken in aid of their cost; and if no such lands or buildings are required at the time, the sums realized should be retained by the Colonial Government, and be available at any subsequent period, when other lands or buildings may be required for military purposes.
6. If some such course as this be not adopted, it is evident that whenever, owing to local conditions, a change of barracks or sites, in a Colony became necessary, the Colony would gratuitously acquire valuable properties, while the Imperial Government would have imposed upon it the entire cost of replacing them.
7. An alternative policy might be adopted by the free surrender to Colonies of all lands and buildings no longer required for military service, on the understanding that they should provide all necessary lands and buildings for their garrisons. This course, however, might occasionally entail upon a Colony an expenditure disproportionate to its means. It would seem preferable, therefore, while ensuring that the value of surrendered lands and buildings shall be made available towards the cost of replacing them, to leave the question of the division, between Imperial and Colonial revenues, of the excess cost, of new over surrendered properties, to be adjusted in each case either upon its merits, or under any general or special agreement which may exist at the time between the Colonial and Imperial authorities.
8. When lands or buildings in a Colony have been purchased and paid for by the Imperial Government, their value, when sold or transferred, should be credited to Imperial revenues.
Sir,
No. 10.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street,
6th March, 1891.
8 1271
I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr. Secretary Stanhope, the accompanying extract from a despatch from the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong, on the subject of the memorandum (copy of which is enclosed for facility of reference) respecting the disposal of Colonial military lands and buildings.
2. It will be seen that the question is one of great importance to Hong Kong, for the lands which belong to the Colony, but are in military occupation, appear to be worth 4,442,000 dollars. It is stated that the annual rate upon these lands, if free from military occupation, would be not less than 30,000 dollars a-year; while the rental (on which the rates are assessed under the local law) would in consequence be at least ten times the amount of the rates; and as the military authorities pay neither rent nor rates, it is asserted on behalf of the Colony, that the military occupation of these particular lands entails a positive loss to the revenue of 330,000 dollars, or over 50,000l. a-year. These latter figures are not given by Mr. Fleming, but Mr. Stanhope will see that they result from his despatch and the enclosures.
3. These large sums are mainly the result of the development of the Colony, so that lands which originally, and when first occupied by the military, were of small value, have now become, owing to the growth of commerce and population, of great worth and importance; and Mr. Fleming contends that the Colony is entitled to the benefit of this increase of value, and not the Imperial Exchequer, since the increase is not in any great degree, if at all, due to Imperial expenditure upon the lands.
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