WAR OFFICE
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that the question would appear to be whether the transaction should be held to have taken place before or after the 1st January last, when the new arrangement as to the contribution came into force. As the military authorities commenced the work of constructing the battery in August 1900, the Secretary of State for War can only hold that the handing over of the site must be considered to have taken place before the date when the increased contribution became payable, and that the transaction must be governed by the arrangements then admitted to have been in force. Under these circumstances it is presumed that Mr Secretary Chamberlain will now agree that the site should be transferred to this Department without payment.
4. I am to add that the request that the balance ($10,465.07) of the Colonial Military Lands Account may be refunded, has been dealt with in War Office letter of the 26th September last, Hong Kong 8/121.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Ventwood W. Villiam