18
19
183
Hong Koug
2
4279
Hong
Kong 2
in
LANDS.
I am to refer to the War Office letter of this day's date,*
4279 reply to the Treasury letter of the 12th October, raising some of the points alluded to in this letter.
The only other point raised in the Treasury lettert of the 12th ultimo, is in regard to the provision of the first outfit of furniture, and in regard to that query, I am to state that all fixed barrack furniture will be included in the cost of providing the barracks, and that moveable furniture, such as bedsteads, tables, brushes, &c., is not included therein, but is provided for in the general estimate of the cost of the garrison, which formed the basis on which the annual contribution to be paid by the Colony was fixed.
W. ST. JOHN BRODRICK.
LANDS.
No. 11.
War Office to Treasury.
War Office,
Sir,
80
12th November, 1889. With reference to your letter of the 12th ultimo,- 15171
respecting the estimates of barrack and hospital accommodation at coaling stations abroad. and more particularly at Hong Kong, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to observe, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, that most of the questions raised therein, were also brought forward in the Treasury letter of the 28th September, 13191
and I am to refer 2 88
to the War Office letter of this day's date, 40248
in reply to that letter, in 107 which it is shown that no estimate of the proceeds of the sale of North Barracks was intended by Appendix "D" to Section IV. of the Report of the Committee on Colonial Military Contributions, and in which is given the further information as to the sale of property at Hong Kong asked for by their Lordships.
Mr. Secretary Stanhope notes that their Lordships accept in principle the proposed sale of property, and decide that the cost of the increased barrack accommodation, beyond what can be met by the proceeds of the sale, shall be shared equally between the Colony and the War Department.
With regard to the last paragraph of the letter under reply, I am to observe that the " erection of buildings" includes the cost of all fixed furniture, but that the cost of moveable furniture, such as bedsteads, bedding, tables, forms, brushes, &c., is included in the general estimate of the annual cost of the garrison, on which basis the amount of the Colonial Military Contribution is fixed.
I am to state that it is considered that, as far as sites can be provided on Crown lands, the Colony should provide, free of cost, any sites that may be required for the new barracks, but that, should it be necessary to purchase any small plots of ground to supplement such sites, the purchase money should be dealt with as part of the cost of the erection of the barracks, which is to be shared equally by the War Department and the Colony, as far as it is not met by proceeds of the sale of property.
W. ST. JOHN BRODRICK.
No. 12.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office,
30th November, 1889. Sir,
With reference to your letter of the 17th October, 1889, respecting the provision of additional barrack accommodation at Hong Kong, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit herewith, for the information of Lord Knutsford, a copy of a letter which has been addressed to the Treasury in regard to the sale of land in that Colony, and I am to state that no trust- worthy estimate of the cost of the barrack accommodation can yet be furnished, nor is it expected that a complete estimate can be so furnished for some length of time, as the amount of building will be considerable, and the plans, &c., will take a long time to prepare. Nor does the Secretary of State for War conceive that it will be possible to bind himself absolutely that the estimate will not be exceeded, though every effort will be made to adhere strictly to the figures quoted.
The variations in prices, and the necessary modifications of the plan in execution, render it impracticable to give an undertaking beyond this.
The plans, however, will be prepared and revised in this office upon the information available at the latest date, and with due regard to economy. The War Department also will have to bear half the cost beyond the proceeds of the sale of property; and it is clear that it will be to the interest of the War Department, as much as to that of the Colony, to keep the cost as low as possible.
RALPH THOMPSON.
LANDS.
Enclosure printed as No. 10.
No. 13.
Treasury to War Office.
40248
164
Sir,
Treasury Chambers,
18th December, 1889. The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury direct me to acknow- and ledge the receipt of your letterst of the 12th ultimo, Hong Kong 2
T. No.
17774
4279
89
40248
2
4307
157 respecting the sale of War Department property, and the provision Hong Kong of additional barrack and hospital accommodation at Hong Kong.
My Lords now understand the relation between the estimates given in Mr. Knox's letter of 9th January last, and the rough guesses made in Sir Lothian Nicholson's memorandum of 25th June, 1888, as shown in the following tables :-
* No. 11.
+ No. 7.
‡ No. 6.
* No. 8.
(138)
† Nos. 10 and 11.
C
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