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Public Works Office,
Hongkong, 25th April, 1908.
Sir,
Enclosure 2.
C.O. 24727
6924 JUL CS
I beg to inform you that application has
been made to me, on behalf of Mr. H. J. Dennys, the lessee of
Rural Building Lot 1, Hill District, for information as to
whether, on the expiry of his present lease, which is for a
period of 75 years, a renewal of it for a further period of 75
years will be granted.
The lot in question was leased on the 30th
September, 1878, and practically 30 years of the term for which
it is held have therefore expired. It has an area of 258,589
square feet or 5.93 acres, the premium at which it was sold
being at the rate of $204 per acre or, say, 1 cent per square
foot, and Crown Rent at the rate of $15 per acre. Present rates
are about 10 cents to 12 cents per square foot premium and
$250 per acre Crown Rent, but, in the case of Rural Building
Lot 1, there are considerable areas included which cannot be
economically utilized for building purposes.
The application made appears to be covered
by C.O.D. 124/1899 in which it is laid down that lessees holding
land under 75 years' leases, or their assignees, should be
offered the renewal of their leases for a further period of 75
years upon such an advance of Crown Rent as is justified by the
then value of the land and without fine.
I submit the matter for instructions as to
whether I may reply, to the enquiry in the above sense. The
same course would, I presume, be followed in the case of all
other lots similarly leased unless it were known that the whole
or any portion of a lot would be required for any public pur-
-pose.
I have etc.,
(Sd.) W. Chatham,
Director of Public Works.
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary.
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