8
No 248.
C.O
31160
19 AUG 14
HONGKONG.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
15th July, 1914.
17
+
sir,
I have the honour to inform you that some months ago complaints were received from a Mr. Bettex, a missionary residing on Junk Island which lies about three miles to the eastward of Lyemun Pass, that small shells occasionally struck the island in the vicinity of his house, and that one shell had actually struck the house.
2.
It appeared that although in the course of carry- ing out artillery practice no shells were actually aimed at the island it was difficult to guarantee the safety of the inhabit-
and that ants of the island owing to ricochets and other causes, to do so would unduly restrict artillery practice from the
Ly emun Forts.
3.
}
I therefore decided that the best course would be to resume the land leased to Mr. Bettex, and to recommend to you that a portion of the island should be reserved until it was
Mr. Battex was paid a sum of required for a public purpose.
$400 and was permitted to remove the materials of his house and it was my intention that the cost should be repaid by the War Department. There would appear, however, to be some difficulty in arranging for payment by the Military Authorities unless the I am unwilling to do island were made into a Military reserve. this, and I would ask for your sanction to carry out my original
red proposal, namely to reserve the land shewn on the attached plan
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LEWIS HARCOURT,
M.P.
&c.
800.
&C.,
for