;
No
10 307.
Enclosures
Sir,
REC
со
30884
Aras 22 SEP II
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG, 31st. August, 1911.
223
I have the honour to draw your attention
to the enclosed extract from page xvii of the Report of the
Hongkong Land Commission of 1886 - 1887 and to state that the
Land Officer and his predecessors have hitherto always taken ther
view that an option was offered to the holders of all leases for
75 years dated prior to 3rd. March, 1849, to extend their leases
for a further period of 924 years and that, in the absence of
express agreement to the contrary that option would be avail-
-able until the last day of the term of 75 years. This view is
shared by the Crown Solicitor, Mr.F. B. L. Bowley, who also
states that it is the view which has been adopted by all pro-
-perty owners and their advisers.
2.
Accordingly such extensions have always
been granted as a matter of course and I myself signed such an
extension of Inland Lot No. 175 in last April and I signed
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
&c.,
LEVIS HARCOURT, M.P.,
&c..
&c...
three