7
}
holosure.
16 april, 1901.
630
4.
Negotiations with respect to the
sale of this area to the Dock Company have been brought
•
to a standstill because the Dock Company will not accept
the restriction that His Majesty's Shipsare to have prior
right of entrance to the Dock over all other vessels.
5.
I asked the General Officer Command-
ing whether he had power to waive the obnoxious condi-
tion and enclose a copy of his answer which was in the
negative.
6.
Probably the main objection of the
Dock Company to acquiring the area in question subject
to this restriction in favour of His Majesty's Ships of
War is founded on the consideration that no such restric-
tion was imposed in the case of the sale of land to
Messrs Butterfield and Swire for Doek purposes, an im-
munity which of course will give the younger enterprise
en advantage over the older undertaking.
This strikes me as being obviously
an invidious distinction.
7.
You will perceive how the business
of the Dock Company may be hampered if precedence is re- served in accordance with the condition sought to be im-
posed, when I point out that the Dock Company fettered by that condition, may have to keep a Dock unoccupied for a day or two pending the arrival of a British Man-of-
War for whose accommodation a Dock has been bespoken by
telegrm, say from Shanghai.
8.
The right of precedence enjoyed by
the