Copy.
No. 324/1934.
Sir,
Enclosure No. 2.
Land Office,
Hong Kong, 29th June, 1934.
51
·
War Department Lot No. 6.
In reply to your letter C.R.C.C.2784 (CE) dated
the 27th March, 1934, it is regretted that the Army Council
is unable to concur in the compromise for the settlement of
this complicated matter, which was provisionally agreed to
by your predecessor in his letter dated the 17th September,
1929.
2.
It is most desirable that some definite agreement
should be arrived at with regard to this matter, and that it
should not be allowed to remain in abeyance, to become still
more complicated as time goes on.
3. Particulars of the interests acquired by the War
Department in plots A - G are set out in detail in paragraph 3
of the Land Officer's letter dated the 19th February, 1929,
from which it will be seen that several of the leaseholds have
entirely disappeared, having merged in the Crown on surrender.
4. It is clear that the War Department has purchased
some interest in all these plots, but with the exception of
Block G in respect of which the Crown Rent has been capitalized,
it has nothing more than a leasehold interest.
5.
Crown Rent should accordingly have been paid for all
these plots as from the date of acquisition by the War Department A statement is attached shewing that these amount to $77,868.78 including capitalization of future Crown Rent in all cases in
The Chief Engineer,
China Command,
Hong Kong.
which