No
23
Sir,
C.O.
5612
www.17 FLBIC
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
HONGKONG. 21st. January, 1913.
217
I have the honour to state that the Council of
the Hongkong University Union have made application for the grant
at a nominal rental of an area of land (plan enclosed) in the
neighbourhood of the University for the purposes of a recreation
ground for the students.
2.
The recreation grounds in Happy Valley, situat-
-ed at a considerable distance from the University, are allotted
to a large number of Clubs, the demand for them is in excess of the
area available and the use of them which can be permitted to the
students is therefore very restricted. There is a small area within
the University precincts available at present for recreation pur- -poses, but it is not large enough for the games of cricket and football and it may eventually be required for an extension of the
buildings.
3.
The site asked for is at present waste land on the hill-side to the West of the University, and contains some 242,000 square feet. Its proximity to the Kennedy Town Slaughter House and to certain fat boiling establishments detract from its value for purposes of European residences, and its isolated positi- -on renders it unsuitable for Chinese houses. The value of the land, taking into consideration the large amount of levelling required, is estimated at 5 cents a foot, or $12,100.00 in all, and
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
*C.,
LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,
&c.,
&c. ..
Crown