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MINUTES NOT TO BE WRITTEN
ON THIS SIDE.
N CONFIDENTIAL,
337
REG
12742
REL 12 MAN33
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
HONGKONG. 2nd February, 1923.
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56783/22
My Lord Duke,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt
of Your Grace's Confidential despatch of the 30th November
with regard to the Military Lands question.
2.
The Secretary of State's Circular despatches
of the 9th June, 1890, and the 30th December, 1894, were written with the object and purpose of defining a Colony's liability in the matter of the provision of land and buildings for Imperial troops, the Colony's obligation
being limited to the maintaining intact, in kind or in value, the Colonial Wilitary lands, which were to be regarded as a permanent defence fund the integrity of which must be observed. It was at the same time pointed out that the Colony was under a further general obligation to contribute, according to its means, to its own defence; but
in the case of Hongkong that obligation is defined by the
Defence Contribution Ordinence, 1901. Under that Ordinance
the Colony pays 20% of its revenues to the Imperial
Government as "a fixed contribution in full return for the
annual cost of the Imperial Garrison, including all capit-]
expenditure required for Military lands and buildings, and
the cost of maintenance of all military works and buildings,
and the cost of lodgings in lieu of barracks, and all other military charges whatsoever".
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE, K.G.,
&C..
ac..
&c.
3.