COPY. No. 54/3.
Sir,
ENCLOSURE 3
C. O.
10045
72
܃
Government House,
Hongkong, 31st. July, 1900,
In reply to your letter No. 1811/1-P of the 13th. instant, asking for permission to begin certain works for Military purposes at Devil's Peak, I bave the honour to inform you that I am prepared to immediately place at your disposal the services of the Land Bailiff in the Public Works Department, who speaks Chinese, for the purpose of settling on the spot the claims to compensation of owners of crops which it may be necessary to destroy in connection with the formation of the roads referred to in your letter under reply.
It has been found that such claims are readily settled by cash payments which I presume will be made by the Military Authorities.
2.
With regard to the making of batteries and the building of barracks and other works at Devil's Peak, while I am ready to afford any assistance in my power in the matter, I am un- able to grant any permission for those purposes, until it shall have been ascertained whether the land on which it is desired to erect them is Crown Land or private property.
If it should be Crown Land I anticipate no dif- ficulty in coming to an arrangement for its transfer to the War Department, but if it, or any part of it, should prove to be pri- vate property it must either be purchased by private arrangement or resumed by the Colonial Government and compensation paid, and I assume that in either case the cost would be defrayed by the War Department.
The same remarks apply to the building of the pier which may be found to be an invasion of private rights over the foreshore.
3.
With a view to ascertaining whether or not the area desired to be acquired by the War Department is claimed by private individuals, I have directed any Officer of the Land Court to investigate the titles to the land as soon as possible.
4.
In the meantime if the Military Authorities will take the responsibility of occupying any part of the Devil's Peak with what works are immediately required, I shall offer no objection.
I have etc.,
His Excellency
The General Officer Commanding.
(Sa.) H.. A. Blake,
Governor, fol.
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