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privately owned. They stated however that both Air. F. G. Fizb, Director of Observatory and Mr. T. F. Claxton, Director-Designate, had raised strong objections to the erection of any further building in close proximity to the Observatory owing to the adverse effect it would have on the magnetic instruments; and that as regards site (2) it lay inconveniently close to the native district of Yaumati and would be hot in summer. They therefore recommended that if possible site (3) should be acquired. On further investigation it was however found that the acquisition of the site together with the erection thereon of a suitable house would together cost no less than $60,000. These officers were then instructed to go into the question of purchasing out- -right a suitable house in Kowloon. They reported on 17th. January that the only suitable house available for acquisition was one situated on Kowloon Inland Lot 1132 containing on the ground floor 3 rooms and 4 on the first floor with detached kitchen and
servants' quarters, the property belonging jointly to Sir P. Chater and to the estate of the late Sir H. Lody. The Director of Public Works has since ascertained from Sir Paul that he would be willing to accept 845,000 for the house with 30,000 square feet of land or $60,000 for the whole property the area of which is 50,929 square feet. Deducting $25,000 for the value of the house and servants' quarters upon which a sum of $42,000 was spent in construction in 1902-3 by the then omer, the amount asked for the land works out at $35,000 or about 684 cents per square foot. As there is no restriction with regard to the buildings which may be erected on the lot the Director of Public Works considers that it would be unwise to acquire only a portion of it at the present time. On the other hand if the whole lot were purchased, any area not required in connection with the house could subsequently be disposed of on conditions regarding the erection of buildings which would safeguard the Government portion of the property.
The property is a very valuable one and the
price asked by the present joint owner is in the opinion off the
Director of Public Works reasonable. I therefore recommend that