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are circumstances which render it probable that the land could be acquired for a fairly moderate eum. It was purchased by the late Mr. Granville Sharp in 1876 for the sum of $158, and was acquired from the trustees of the estate in 1912 by Sir Robert Ho Tung for 850,000. The lease has 34 years to run and Sir Robert Ho Tung is unwilling to embark on any extensive building for such a comparatively short term. I should, therefore, be glad to have your sanction to enter into negotiations with him for its purchase for a sum of not much exceeding that which he paid for it. I hope that it may be possible to get the land for a lower price as at present it is only yielding about 1% on the price paid namely the rent of an old wooden Bungalow which stands on one corner of the site.
5.
These two sites, together with the one at
Leighton Hill (paragraph 7 of the Director of Public Works' report of 14th. July, 1916, which formed an enclosure in my Confidential Despatch of the 23rd, of August last) will be sufficient to make considerable progress with the building scheme. But although there are funds available for building quarters on them it is not desirable to add to the programme of public works this year. I propose, therefore, that the same principle should be applied to the higher officers in the service as has already been adopted in the case of certain married officers namely that pending the erection of quarters allowances in aid of rent should be given but that such allowances should only be paid if the following conditions are complied with:-
(a) The officer shall be the sole occupant of the house
(with his wife and family if any).
(b) That the rent paid by him including taxes is not less
than the following amount:-
Officers in Class I
8160 a month in the Peak district or 8130 elsewhere.
Officers in Class II - 8140 a month in the Peak
district or $110 elsewhere.