In 1866, and it will be fair to ask the Admiralty to pay that price for it now, unless it can be claimed as in part return of the value of surrendered Colonial Military Lands.
My Lords do not know how, what may be called, the Colonial Military Lands Account in Hong Kong stands; but if it shows a balance to the credit of the Imperial Government equalling $5,138, Their Lordships are disposed to think that the value of the strip now required for Defensive purposes should be written off against it, although the land happens to be wanted by the Admiralty not the War Office.
I am to ask whether the parting with this land will compel the Colonial Government to buy other land instead. Judging from the plan, the strip can be of no use to anyone but the owner of Marine Lot No. 21.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Nancis Mowell
W.L. 2771/2949.
Sir,
24373
Rece
&
REG 31 OCT 98 603
ADMIRALTY,
24th October 1898.
614
I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the
Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, that it is
necessary for the Admiralty to acquire for the purpose of
the Extension of the Naval Yard at Hong Kong, the strip of land between Marine Lots No. 21 (late Sharp's property) and
the Commissariat Buildings the land in question being
coloured pink on the attached plan.
The land at present is the property of the
Colony, but the Colonial Office are willing to sell it to the Admiralty for $5,138 the price which was paid for it by the Colonial Government in 1866.
This price is lower than the rate per square foot at which Sharp's property was acquired and is less than the present equivalent of the amount originally paid by the
Colonial Government.
My Lords therefore request the sanction of Their Lordships of the Treasury to the purchase of the land on the above mentioned terms, as a charge to the item "Hong Kong Dockyard Extension" in the Naval Works Act 1897, under which funds are available.
The strip of land will be held subject to Crown Rental, but My Lords believe that any actual payment for this is waived while the land is actually used by the Imperial Government for Imperial purposes and is not assigned by that Government; the Colonial Office have,
however,
The Secretary
to the Treasury,
Treasury Chambers,
Whitehall, S.W.
+