No.108.
Hongkong.
409
15623
Government House, 3 APR 12
Hongkong, 22nd March, 1902,
No 852
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 21 of the 17th January, in which you inform me that in view of the correspondence which has passed between the War Office and the Colonial Office on the subject of the payment of rates on houses inhabited by Military Officers in Hongkong, there seems to be no reason for granting exemption of rates in those cases. I have accordingly issued directions that such exemption is to be regarded as having ceased on the 31st December last.
2.
I have now to transmit for your consideration the enclosed copy of a letter from the General Officer Commanding dated the 12th instant, under cover of which was transmitted an application for the refund of rates for certain houses leased to the War Department, the application being based on the ground that the premises in question were in occupation by the War Department as barracks.
Aozure, March, 1902.
3.
I also transmit copies of minutes by the Government Assessor and the Colonial Treasurer, to whom His Excellency's letter was referred, and I have now the honour to ask you to be good enough to give this matter your further consideration and inform me of the course which you desire
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
800
800.4