101
34:31
No.
286.
Government House,
Hong Kong the
Hong Kong, // October, 1899.
Sir,
Enclosure 1.
I have the honour to transmit for your information the enclosed précis on the subject of the payment of
a sum of $20,145, on account of repairs effected on the building known as "Beaconsfield" which is owned by the Honourable E.R. Belilios and which is at present rented as Government Offices.
Enclosure 2. 5th October, 1899.
2. I also attach a copy of my observations to
the Council on the 4th instant, when the vote was approved, and
have to request your sanction for the expenditure.
Mr. Sercombe Smith, who is at home, knows all
the circumstances of the case, the papers in which are very voluminous. I was satisfied on looking over them that this Government was not liable, and declined to pay any of the money
except compelled by a legal decision.
4. When the case had been decided in favour
of Mr. Belilios I ordered payment at once, to save the costs. I
did so without first having submitted the matter to the Finance
Committee, the existence of which I was not aware of at the
The Right Honourable
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
&c. &c.
&c.
time