250
the Club would be confined to Europeans and Americans on a
somewhat similar basis to that of the Hongkong Club. The
success of such a venture cbviously depends upon the con- -struction of a road, and the promoters have declared their intention of expending a sum of not less than $35,000 in developing the land provided a road is made, and the land leased on easy terms.
4.
The area applied for has a rocky coast line, and the lease of the land will in no way interfere with the amenities of the beaches at Tai Long Wan (Big Wave Bay), Sheko Wan (Rocky Bay) or Lu Tiang Wan (Island Bay). The latter place is one which may be expected to develop when the road is made as there is a good beach there. If the land applied for were to be put up for sale by auction there would in ordinary circumstances be no competition and the promoters would optain it at the upset price, but the mere fact that it is proposed to use the land for a Club for European residents will almost certainly lead to competition on the part of certain Chinese gentlemen of such a nature that the price would be raised to a figure, which would defeat the end in view, namely, the provision of a place of recreation for a considerable portion of the European community in a part of the Colony that possesses on exceptionally good climate owing to its eastern aspect.
5.
I do not desire to make a European
reservation of this district as there is ample room for the development of the grantor part of it by all nationalities, but I do desire to allow the promoters of this scheme to obtain at a fair value the land applied for, and in addition an area of about 20 acres on the hill opposite for the purpose of erecting houses (vide eren coloured brown). The upset price of the land in ordinary circumstances would be
$50