LE
45
www.
640
No. 1918.
SIR,
44
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
Hongkong, 24th October, 1891.
In acknowledging your letter of the 19th ultimo, I regret that owing to the representations you made and to the enquiry thereby necessitated there should have seemingly been some delay in answering it.
I have the honour now to inform you that as you and Mr. M. J. D. Stephens have not come into the Scheme, the Government is advised that you have no claim as of right to any compensation in respect of your Marine Lot 184, but that if the Wharf or Pier in front thereof is removed you will be entitled to claim a proportion of the sum not exceeding $180,000 set apart by the Ordinance for compensation for such removal and that the Government now invite you in anticipation of such removal to make such representations as to the amount eventually to be paid you and otherwise as you may think fit.
In reference to your statement that the Government is not carrying out the Reclamation Scheme in accordance with the Ordinance, I have to point out to you that although the Ordinance authorises a general line of reclamation commencing from a point opposite Marine Lot No. 188 and terminating at a point opposite Murray Pier, there is no duty cast upon the Government of commencing the work of reclamation at any given point, and there is no reason to suppose that the Scheme will be carried out otherwise than in accordance with the Ordinance.
T. HOWARD, Esq.,
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
W. MEIGH GOODMAN,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
SIR,
Hongkong, 30th October, 1891.
In compliance with the invitation of the Government contained in letter No. 1918, under date 24th October, now to make such representations as to the amount eventually to be paid to us for the removal of our Pier, opposite Marine Lot No. 184, I have to submit that the time has now arrived when the amount set apart for us should be paid.
For, although the Pier has not been removed, yet with the work of reclamation now going on, close to our Lot, and that which has to be done, as laid down on the plans, our Pier will be an obstruction to the boats coming to our Godowns, and the removal of the greater part thereof, has therefore become a necessity.
And as you have already informed me that the Scheme of Reclamation will be carried out, it is best that the whole amount apportioned for our Pier should now be paid.
More particularly so, when it is borne in mind that our claim against the Government will be lessened by the amount we now receive, when the Government has to resume Marine Lot No. 184; for it will be remembered that we are not consenting parties to the Scheme of Reclamation in so far as the aforesaid Lot is concerned; and I have already, in a previous letter, intimated to you that when access by water is taken away, our Godowns, as such, will no longer be valuable, and consequently the Government, as I am advised, will have to pay full and fair compensation in accordance with the Covenant in the Crown Lease.
I believe Mr. Price caused a schedule to be made of the apportionments for the Piers, and so far as I remember, my views accorded with his in that matter, but what the amount apportioned to us is, I do not know; but I estimate the present value of our Pier, with the cost of the removal at the sum of sixteen thousand ($16,000) dollars.
I hardly need say that I shall be glad if you will give this matter your earliest attention, for I want to begin to remove the Pier at once.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
THOS. HOWARD.
SIR,
HONGKONG, 28th October, 1891.
I have to thank you for your letter of the 24th instant, in reply to mine of the 19th ultimo, in which you state that --
There is no reason to suppose that the Scheme will be carried out otherwise than in accordance with the Ordinance.
I have also to thank you for your courtesy in telling me that, in view of the carrying out of the Scheme, the Government now invite me to make a claim for my proportion of the $180,000 set apart for compensation to Pier Owners.
I do not, however, acquiesce in the opinion that a Crown Lessee of a Marine Lot has no claim to compensation when the very thing that makes the Lot valuable, namely, access by water, has been taken away.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
THOS. HOWARD.
The Honourable W. M. GOODMAN,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
SIR,
HONGKONG, 4th November, 1891,
With reference to my letter of the 30th October, claiming compensation for our Pier in front of Marine Lot No. 184, I have now to inform you that the weight of the stones thrown upon a mud bottom close to our Pier has made the Pier rise to the extent of about two feet at one end, and I suppose, as the work progresses, the same effect will be produced over the greater part of the length of the Pier, and thus damage the whole.
I shall be glad, therefore, if the Government will tell me if my claim of $16,000 will be allowed, so that I may commence the removal of the Pier.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
THOS. HOWARD.
The Honourable W. M. GOODMAN,
Acting Colonial Secretary.