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offer the Admiralty the use of all our docks and slips for Her Majesty's
snips FREE OF HIRE for a period of thirty years, the Admiralty paying
only a fixed sur to cover cost of purping out the dook and for shoring
the vessel in dock, and subject only to certain reservations as to the
number of her Majesty's vessels that shall, in tine of perce, cocupy
the cocks at one time, and also subject to certain regulations which
experience bas shown us are necessary for the proper conduct of our
business.
I an further directed to add that in the event of the Loras
Commissioners of the Admiralty accepting our proposal it is our in-
tention to fit our shops with all necessary machinery and appliances
for undertaking repairs etc. to vessels of suel cireusions as will
in any case, it necessitate their using the proposed new dock; amui,
is intended to extend our machine shops and to erect a new Blacksmiths' shop and forge, all of which will also be fully equipped with the lat- est machinery and appliances, but the sites for these buildings cannot be decided upon until we know whether or no the proposed new cock will
be required.
In conclusion I would point out to Your Excellency that cur ex- isting docks and establishrents are very ample, as far as we are able to judge, for our requirements for the present and for the near future, and our sole reason for laying before you the foregoing proposal is the necessity which we understand exists, from an Imperial point of view, for increased dock accomodation at Hongkong for heavy vessels