No. 251.
04 Hongton on 54349/24 (3)
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG.
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Кшав
My Lord,
RECEIVED
29 MAY 1940
| C. C.
C. O. MESK
20th May, 1940.
I have the honour to enquire whether favourable
consideration might be given to a proposal to delegate the
Governor's power of making and executing grants and
dispositions of lands under Article XIII of Hong Kong
Letters Patent.
2.
Such delegation would not, I suggest, involve
any relaxation in the Governor's control over sales of
Crown Land, since there would not appear to be any
discretionary power to refuse a Crown lease to any
successful purchaser at a public auction who has complied
with the conditions of sale. The Conditions of sale of
Crown Lands are invariably submitted to the Governor, or
to the Colonial Secretary acting under his instructions,
for prior approval.
3.
I am advised that the delegation now suggested
would not be possible under Article XIII of the Hong
Kong Letters Patent unless His Majesty were pleased to
signify His pleasure in that sense through the instrument
of a Royal Instruction. In this connection I forward
the accompanying copy of a written opinion by the
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LORD LLOYD OF DOLO BRAN,
Aus
&C.,
&c.
&C.,