W.L. 2372/04.
49
Head Quarters, Hong Kong,
4th March 1904.
Sir,
With reference to your letter of 20th February 1904, No. 1051, requesting payment for clearing away débris from the Albany Nullah on Admiralty property :
I have the honour to state that I cannot acknowledge any responsibility for damage caused by floods below the property level of the War Department, as the rights of the owners of the Nullah to allow water to flow down it to the sea with all it contains has always existed.
2. The Admiralty portion of the Nullah has evidently not been laid at self-cleansing slopes, as is the case with other portions of the Nullah; and if this liability is now admitted the War Department will become subject to a constantly recurring charge over which it has no control.
3. I would further remark that the sum asked for far exceeds what would have been required to clear away the small portion of wall which was destroyed on War Department property. Other stones coming down the Nullah from above battered the wall to pieces, and the clearing away of these also has evidently been included in the repayment requested in your letter above quoted.
The Commodore,
Royal Naval Yard,
Hong Kong.
I have etc.
(Sgd)
V. Hatton.
Major General.
Commanding the Troops in South China