2.
12
ferry landing stage at Kowloon; the cost of transport
therefore deters a considerable number of players who
would be regarded as eligible for election to that club
from offering themselves as candidates. I trust that
this further explanation will suffice to prove the
desirability of enabling the Kowloon Golf Club to re-create
itself elsewhere.
3.
The laying out of the course in question
and the erection of a club house will, it is estimated,
cost about $50,000 and the club proposes to finance this
either by the ordinary process of assistance from a bank
or alternatively by the issue of debentures. It could
almost certainly not afford to do this if the acquisition
of the land had also to be undertaken in this way.
4.
There is no likelihood of the land being
required for a public purpose as far as can be foreseen.
The clause quoted is a usual one in cases of this kind
and was inserted with no particular reference to the land
in question.
5.
As regards recreational facilities the
Chinese population has in my opinion been well served in
the matter of cricket, football, tennis and swimming at
all of which they have, despite a comparatively recent
initiation, reached a high standard of skill. Efforts
have been made to interest them in golf and on several
occasions prospective organizations have been urged to
consider the construction of courses, but so far this
has not succeeded. Needless to say they would be offered
at least equally generous terms should such application
be made.
6.