Ho. 336
34157
274
O CEP OL
Government House,
Hongkong, 28th August, 1901.
(23733)
Sir,
With reference to my Despatch No. 204 of the 31st July, 1899, I have the honour to inform you that the estimate of $35,000 for the cost of the survey of the New Territory has been very considerably exceeded.
2.
In his memorandum of the 13th February, 1899, which formed the enclosure in my Despatch No. 53 of the 10th March, 1899, Mr. Ormsby stated (paragraph 4) that it would probably take from 2 to 3 years to make the survey, which he estimated would involve an expenditure of $60,000 per annum. In paragraph 2, however, he only took 3 years as the basis of his calculation and thus arrived at an estimate of $120,000; while in paragraph 3 he refers to the estimate of the Surveyor of Ceylon, which amounted to $120,000 per annum for 2 or 3 years.
3.
In the face of these figures, the estimate of the Surveyor-General of India was obviously inaccurate, and for example, no provision was made for the transport of the Survey Party from India to Hongkong, or for their travelling expenses when here, or for house and office rent, or for marking survey stations, or in fact for any incidental expenditure.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
BCC.
BG -
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