CO129-303 - Public Offices & Others - 1900 — Page 239

Any further communication on this subject should be addressed to-

The Under Secretary of State, War Office,

London, S.W.,

and the following number quoted.

Hong trong 5 lương 5/389

Feas 207624

Sir,

·Pressunt

War Office

53

Test 17 OCT 00 London, S.W

16th October, 1900.

236

With reference to your letter of the 6th

August last, No. 20764.1900, forwarding a copy of a

despatch which Mr Secretary Chamberlain proposes to

address to the Governor of Hong Kong on the subject of

the contribution for military purposes payable by that

Colony, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War

to acquaint you that he concurs generally in the terms

of that despatch, subject to the following observations.

In view of the desirability of effecting a

permanent settlement of the rate of the contribution

from the Colony towards the expenditure incurred for

its defence by the Imperial Government, Lord Lansdowne

will not press the question of the liability of the

Colony to provide, free of cost, available unoccupied

lands required for military purposes. He accepts the

proposal that the contribution of 20 per cent of the

revenue should cover all capital expenditure required

for military lands and buildings, on the understanding

that this arrangement shall have effect from the date

on which the increased contribution commences,

and that

land

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.