Eastern Defce ? Remind Gov. 6m. 875 ти деб без ? no alome necessity yet a.1.8/5- No: Wait. 9.5-
In any further communication on this subject, please quote N.L. 11918. and address letter to--- The Secretary, Admiralty, Whitehall, London, S.W.
Sir,
Admiralty, 221 20th DECEMBER 1907. 0.0 +4631 (7:52 21 DEC 07
I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that they have been in communication with the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury on the question of the expense of the upkeep of the Naval Graves in the public Cemetery (Happy Valley) at Hong Kong, these graves numbering at present about 900.
2.- The Cemetery itself is maintained by the Colonial Government, and is in very good order, but the Naval graves are not at all in keeping with their surroundings, the climate and heavy rains having had an injurious influence on the stones and lettering. Efforts have been made to remedy this out of funds raised by voluntary contribution but the sum thus obtained has proved quite inadequate to allow of the stones being kept in a satisfactory condition, and it is estimated that a first outlay of £90 is required to put the graves in good repair, after which they could be maintained by an annual expenditure of £17.
8.- Under these circumstances and in view of the fact that there is no Admiralty Cemetery at Hong Kong, Treasury sanction has been obtained to the requisite expenditure
COLONIAL OFFICE.
Under Secretary of State, -Nu. & S.