!
Any further communication on this subject should be addressed to-
The Secretary,
War Office,
172
C.O
14687
| MAY 13
London, S.W..
War Office,
and the following number quoted,
Eng Kong 8/161.
(L.B.)
Sir,
th
London, S.W.
30 April, 1913.
With reference to your letter of the 4th October last, No. 28775/1912, relative to the disposal of
an area of land at Signal Hill, Kowloon, I am commanded
by the Army Council to acquaint you, for the information
of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, that the question of finding
suitable sites for War Department buildings in Kowloon,
is already one of considerable difficulty. The particular
area referred to (which forms part of a site which is
already somewhat cramped and restricted), would after being levelled, form a good site for the erection of quarters, and if it were now given up, there is no other
piece of land which could be transferred to the War
Department later on, and form an efficient substitute
for it.
In all these circumstances, which do not appear
to have been fully considered when the proposal was made to lease this area, the Army Council are of opinion that
the site must be regarded as prospectively required for military purposes, and that its retention is therefore
in accordance with the terms of the circular despatch
referred to in the last paragraph of your letter under
reply.
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant
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