COP I.. No. 1911/1-T.
ENCLOSURE 4
0.0
10845
73
Headquarters,...
Hongkong, 13th. September, 1900.
Your Excellency,
With reference to your letter of 31st. July, 1900, No. 64/3, I have the bonour to report that, as the lar Office orders were imperative concerning the early commencement of the defences at the Devil's Peak, I have entered into a con- tract for the works, and they are being pushed forward with all expedition.
2.
As it would be beyond my province to ascertain who are the rightful owners of the land and piers, to whom compensation would be due, I propose to refer all
such matters to the band Court, otherwise, I should probably make payments to men who were not the rightful owners, and only stimulate the rapacity of the Chinese, in that quarter of the New Territory,
3.
I would presume from paragraph 11 of the Circular of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, of 30th. December, 1894, and the reply of His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong, dated 19th. April, 1995, that the Colony will make all necessary payments for the rights of ase of the land by the War Department.
4.
(
It does not appear, from the latter part of paragraph 2 of your letter under reply, that you take this view.
His Excellency
The Governor of
Hongkong.
I have etc., (sa.) 7. J. Gascoigne,
Major-General, Commanding Troops in China.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.