Copy.
No. 259/1929.
Sir,
Enclosure No. 3.
55
Land Office,
Hong Kong, 19th February, 1929.
The Cantonment.
With reference to our conversation a week ago
regarding the grant of a title deed for this area to the
War Department.
1.
I find that Colonel Lewis at page 4 of his statement
of particulars says "the larger portion of this, amounting to
"64 acres is agreed to be freehold War Department property.
"It was acquired from time to time for Military purposes, and
"its limits and extent definitely fixed in 1853.
"A large part of the remainder is held by War Department
"on leasehold of 999 years.
2.
11
The foregoing seems to indicate that the area
was considerably more than 64 acres, yet the recent survey for
the purposes of a transfer shews that the whole of the area
of the Cantonment between Queen's Road and Kennedy Road after
allowing for minor adjustments made recently, is only 59.03
acres. Can you account for this?
3. With regard to the leaseholds referred to by
Colonel Lewis, which I have marked in pencil on the plan
-
Plot A. was Inland Lot No. 4 (105 x 100 10,500 sq.ft.).
My records shew that this was surrendered to the Crown in
1886 by Mr. H. H. Nelson for $40,000. I have no note that
the War Department ever paid this $40,000 to Colonial
Government.
The Chief Engineer,
Headquarters, South China Command,
Hong Kong.
Plot B.