44
10 FEB 12
Government House,
Hongkong, 9th January, 1902.
Sir,
You 8510/98
With reference to Sir William Robinson's Despatch No. 78 of the 18th March, 1898, and previous and subsequent correspondence, I have the honour to inform you that for some time past this Government has had under its consideration a new scheme in connection with the proposed new Post Office, and as the scheme has now been fully matured I have to submit it for your consideration.
2. The proposal which has hitherto been kept in view, but in connection with which no action has been taken, is that the new Post Office should be built on the site of the present building and on that of the present Law Courts. The new proposal, which appears to me to have many advantages over the old, is to erect the Post Office on the reclamation in front of the Offices of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Company. This will necessitate the purchase of an expensive site, but on the other hand the Government will have as an asset the valuable site upon which the present Post Office and Law Courts now stand.
3. Before laying before you the details of the new scheme, I will recapitulate the somewhat intricate history of the reports and negotiations which have led to its adoption, and in order to elucidate my remarks, I attach a ...
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.
&c. ...