CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12] — Page 72

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Honourable Colonial Secretary、

The Statement of the Captain Superintendent of

Police shows that the foreshore was granted, presumably for a

a

consideration, to Society, or Company, by the Chinese Government,

笋 A

and that title deeds are in existence.

The question then arises : Had the Chinese authori-

ties the right to grant this title ? and, if they had, are

not the people in possession in the same category as people

holding land under title deeds ? Further, if they are, Is this

Government justified in depriving them of their property, which

seems valuable, without compensation ? These are points that

I should like the Attorney General to consider, for if we find

these people in legitimate possession of property that wè con-

sider it advisable to alienate for public purposes, so as to

prevent the continuance of a monopoly that must hamper trade

and communication, it appears to me at present that the holders

of the title are, while seized of it, as much entitled to com-

pensation as would a person removed from the enjoyment of ex-

clusive foreshore rights in the Colony not covered by a con--

dition that the foreshore could be resumed for public purposes

without compensation. In this matter it appears to me that

somebody has a grievance, and we ought to get at the real facts

and then do what is just. If this be done the difficulties as

to the erection of a pier would disappear. Probably any pier

erected at Sha U Chung would be destroyed by a Southerly storm.

{ Signed.) H.A.Blake,

Governor, 80.

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