9
X
In both cases the purchase price is stated
to be twenty-five times the annual Crown Rent which would be reserved for the area if demised by the Crown, and a proportionate part of the price would be refunded to the Air Ministry if, on ceasing to be required for Air Force purposes, it were returned to the Colony before the expiry of twenty-five years.
A further condition of the grant of the land would be that any buildings erected thereon should be taken over by the Colony at an agreed valuation or, if the Colony did not require them, should be removed.
We in the Air Ministry are not very familiar with the terms on which land required for defence pur- poses is placed at the disposal of the Fighting Services in the Colonies. Indeed, apart from Malta, which is no doubt in a category of its own, the only experience we have had is with Singapore, where the local Government placed Crown land required at our disposal free of charge.
In these circumstances and having regard to the terms of the Colonial Military Lands Circulars, which appear to have been based on the assumption that Colonies would provide land and even buildings for defence pur- poses, we are in some doubt whether the offer of the Hong Kong Government takes full cognisance of any obligation which may rest on the Colony to provide land for defence purposes.
The fact that the land in question is on the leased territory may of course affect the position.
I should be very grateful therefore if you would let me know whether you consider that the terms suggested by the Hong Kong Government represent the best offer which we can hope to obtain from them and if not whether we should approach you officially with a request for reconsideration.
We shall of course have to obtain Treasury approval for the acquisition of the land if any payment is involved.
Yours sincerely,
Ch Camis