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or Praya, 50 feet in width in front of the lot. No steps towards the construction of such a Praya have been taken up to the present time, and I concur in the opinion of the Director of Public Works that it is unnecessary to provide such a thoroughfare at this point. In Hongkong there are many industries for which the possession of a private water frontage is practically indispensable, whilst the provision of a public roadway, which is obstructed by constant streams of coolies discharging or loading cargo, is of very questionable value as an avenue for traffic. I am therefore of opinion that the right in question should be abandoned by the Government on condition that a strip of land along the West side of Inland Lot 210, of sufficient width to widen Des Voeux Road to 100 feet, be surrendered to Government free of cost within two years from the date of the conclusion of the transaction; and also on condition that Messrs. Blackhead and Company take up and reclaim the area cross-hatched in red on the tracing and pay a premium of 85 cents per Square Foot and $600 per acre Crown Rent for any excess area involved in the exchange.
Further, the leases of Inland Lot 210 and Marine Lot 34 should be surrendered and a new lease taken up for the altered area as one Marine Lot.
4. Messrs. Blackhead and Company have accepted these terms as a preliminary to the sale to them of the large area for which they apply in addition, on the understanding that they will not be required to submit to the uncertainty of a sale by public auction; and in view of the advantage which the Government will derive from the transaction I see no objection to the acceptance of this condition.
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