CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7] — Page 101

Enclosure 2.

-tion.

96

There would be ne objection to the

removal by the Naval Authorities of all buildings and plant erected on the present Naval Yard. In his calcula-

tion of the cost of the exchange to this Goverment, Mr.

Chater does not include the value of the land in the pos-

session of the Government, and I think he underestimates

the cost of the resumption of the land in the possession of the Briquette Works Company and other private holders, but even including those mounts m of opinion that it

would be for the interests of the Colony to effect the

#xchange, as I am convinced it would unquestionably be for the interests of His Majesty's Naval Establishment

in Hongkong.

I attach a chart on which is shown

the broad

the Naval Extension as at present decided upon,

line through which showing the continuation of the Praya

in the event of the exchange being effected, and also,

marked in Green, the area on the West of Kowloon Penin-

sula that I propose to grant in exchange. I have shown

this scheme to Commodore Powell who approves of it. I have also sent a copy of this Despatch with its enclosure to Vice-Admiral Sir E. Seymour, for whose opinion I am

unfortunately unable to wait before forwarding this

Despatch as time is so very important.

I would earnestly request that if

the feasibility of this exchange be accepted the works