CONFIDENTIAL,
Sir,
HONGKONG.
REC
52975
REG 27 JCT 17
396
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
5th. September, 1917.
35233.
do
Referring to my Confidential Despatch of the 25th. May, I have the honour to state that the house "Lysholt" at the Peak was bought at public action by Mr. Bo Kom-tong, brother of Sir Robert Ho Tung, for the sum of 237,000, for purposes of a residence for himself and his family.
2.
I had not fully considered and in my Despatch under reference I omitted to mention the fact that this property includes a garden, separate from and on a lower level than the ground where the house stands, which would
be very suitable for the erection of two semi-detached houses
or some flats.
3.
For this reason, and for reasons also
connected with the Peak District Reservation Ordinace, 1904, referred to at length in my Confidential Despatch of even
date, I sent for Mr. Ho Kom-tong and asked him to re-gell the
property to the Government. He consented to do so for the sum
of 240,000, explaining that he had been prepared to bid up to
$42,000, and at the same time voluntarily promising to give to
charity the $3,000 which he would gain on the transaction.
4.
I accepted the offer to sell for £40,000
and I at once brought the matter before the Legislative
IGHT HONOURABLE
WALTER LONG, MP.,
&c...
Bo..
&o..
Council