In any further communica-tion on this subject, please quote
C
W.L.98/541.
and address letter to--
The Secretary,
Admiralty, Whitehall,
London, S. W.
Hong Kong 8/32.
Copy
Admiralty,
17th February 1899.
26
With reference to paragraph 2 of your letter of the 29th November 1898, respecting the non-payment to the Colonial Government of Crown Rent in respect of property acquired by the War Department at Hong Kong, I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you,
for the information of the Secretary of State for War, that in a letter from the Colonial Office on this subject, dated 6th January 1899 the following statement is made:-
"The War Office is still held liable for Crown Rent on land purchased by them in the Colony and in a recent case that office credited the Colony with the amount of the rent for a certain property capitalised at 25 years".
From this it would appear that the Colonial Government claim Crown Rent from all purchasers of property from Private Individuals, whether the purchasers be the Imperial Government or others; but that in the case of the sale of their own property they either include the value of the Crown Rent in the purchase price or require that it should be paid separately, either annually or commuted at so many years purchase. My Lords will be glad if the Secretary of State will be so good as to cause them to be informed whether this has been the course adopted in dealing with the War Department.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(sgd) Evan MacGregor.
The Under Secretary of State,
WAR OFFICE,
"Works".
London, S.W.
L-No. 7