1841-1886
PAPERS RELATING TO
intended for speculative purposes, that is, for being sold from one person to another, no buildings being erected upon the lots. You are well aware that at one time in the history of this Colony such things occurred. A similar charge appears to have been made as regards the sale of the Crown lands in 1881. This is a matter of public interest, and I have therefore asked the Surveyor-General to favour me with a return of the various lots sold in 1881 by the Government, with a statement as to what has been done or is proposed to be done with the land so sold. Now, I find that the first lot sold was inland lot No. 509. It was sold for $3,500 to a Chinese gentleman, and upon that lot he is erecting a number of houses. The next lot sold in 1881 was lot No. 26 at Kowloon, a marine lot. That has been sold to the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company, a company, as you know, one of the most flourishing of its kind in the East, which is doing an immensity of good in the Colony. That was purchased with a view to the erection of houses for the workmen employed at the dock, but the buildings are not yet commenced. The next I see was a lot sold to Messrs. Belilios and Chater, for $12,525 and upon that lot godowns and houses are to be erected during the current year. Though the godowns are not yet finished some of them are actually let, such is the demand for business premises in the Colony. The next lot was a small one, sold for $1,768, purchased by a European gentleman for a lawn tennis ground which has been constructed. The next lot, for $2,025, was also sold to my enterprising friend, Mr. Chater, and upon that lot there have been erected four godowns for the storage of kerosine oil, and they will contain about 120,000 cases. The buildings are nearly completed. There was a small inland lot sold to Mr. Ede, which is still unoccupied.
Chinese Sugar Refinery.
Two very important lots were sold at Bowrington to Lai Wai Yeung, one for $10,025 and the other for $6,025, and upon those lots that Chinese gentleman is constructing, as you all may see, a large sugar refinery. The site selected is one that, as you know, remained perfectly idle and grass-grown up to this year. It is between the premises of Jardine, Matheson, & Co. and the city of Victoria. Upon that ground the sugar refinery is now being built. It is the first time that a sugar refinery, as such, has been constructed in the Colony of Hong Kong, for the sugar refinery a little further to the east, which is called the East Point Sugar Refinery, consists of buildings which were constructed originally with a view of doing something to remedy the inconvenience felt with regard to the currency of the Colony by establishing here a mint. Sir Hercules Robinson constructed those fine buildings for a mint. They were subsequently sold—I think it was unfortunate for less than a third of what they cost, but I am bound to say they are now usefully employed by an energetic company, the China Sugar Refining Company. With regard to the sugar
653
1841-1886
PAPERS RELATING TO
intended for speculative purposes, that is, for being sold from one person to another, no buildings being erected upon the lots. You are well aware that at one time in the history of this Colony such things occurred. A similar charge appears to have been made as regards the sale of the Crown lands in 1881. This is a matter of public interest, and I have therefore asked the Surveyor-General to favour me with a return of the various lots sold in 1881 by the Government, with a statement as to what has been done or is proposed to be done with the land so sold. Now, I find that the first lot sold was inland lot No. 509. It was sold for $3,500 to a Chinese gentleman, and upon that lot he is erecting a number of houses. The next lot sold in 1881 was lot No. 26 at Kowloon, a marine lot. That has been sold to the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company, a company, as you know, one of the most flourish- ing of its kind in the East, which is doing an immensity of good in the Colony. That was purchased with a view to the erection of houses for the workmen employed at the dock, but the buildings are not yet commenced. The next I see was a lot sold to Messrs. Belilios and Chater, for $12,525 and upon that lot godowns and houses are to be erected during the current year. Though the godowns are not yet finished some of them are actually let, such is the demand for business premises in the Colony. The next lot was a small one, sold for $1,768, purchased by a European gentleman for a lawn tennis ground which has been constructed. The next lot, for $2,025, was also sold to my enterprising friend, Mr. Chater, and upon that lot there have been erected four godowns for the storage of kerosine oil, and they will contain: about 120,000 cases. The buildings are nearly completed. There was a small inland lot sold to Mr. Ede, which is still unoccupied.
Chinese Sugar Refinery.
Two very important lots were sold at Bowrington to Lai Wai Yeung, one for $10,025 and the other for $6,025, and upon those lots that Chinese gentleman is constructing, as you all may see, a large sugar refinery. The site selected is one that, as you know, remained perfectly idle and grass-grown up to this year. It is between the premises of Jardine, Matheson, & Co. and the city of Victoria. Upon that ground the sugar refinery is now being built. It is the first time that a sugar refinery, as such, has been constructed in the Colony of Hong Kong, for the sugar refinery a little further to the east, which is called the East Point Sugar Refinery, consists of buildings which were constructed originally with a view of doing something to remedy the inconvenience felt with regard to the currency of the Colony by establishing here a mint. Sir Hercules Robinson constructed those fine buildings for a mint. They were subsequently sold—I think it was unfor- tunate for less than a third of what they cost, but I am bound to say they are now usefully employed by an energetic company, the China Sugar Refining Company. With regard to the sugar
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653
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