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itself, as it undoubtedly has the power
to do, it could only do it by paying to the Marine Lot Holders a full and fair Compensation. When this compen- sation was paid and the net cost aided to the cost of reclamation, the profit to Government on the entire reclamation would be small, especially as the Go vernment would have to borrow money for the work and probably to remain out of it, paying interest for some con- siderable time. In any case it would juve to take the risk of all delays and losses in realization.
* The Marine Lot Holler who agrees to the Praya Reclamation on my scheme has, in addition to finding the money for carrying it out, to (2) stand the loss of his present godown business during the progress of the work, to (b) spend $4 a foot at the least in pulling down his godowns and putting up Chinese honses in their place, to (c) spend much more in build- ing on his reclaimed land, either go downs or dwelling houses, and lastly, to take all the risk of buding himself unable to let his new godowns aud buildings at remunerative figures as speedily as he could wish. The vaine of the newly reclaimed land will hardly repay him for all this. The Governor's proposal would leave him out of pocket.
9. His Excellency will understand that in writing this I am expressing my own views and opinions only. I have not consulted and am not now speaking as the representative of the Marine Lot Holders. I am giving His Excellency the result of my own careful study of the question, with the experience of many years and an intimate knowledge of the Colony and its business to justify me. The reclamation of the Eastern praya and the removal of the Hospital and Morrison Hills are works that in the interest of the Colony must be done sooner or later. The rapid expansion of the Colony and of its business de- mands it. Now is the time. The
Colony is prosperous--money is plenti- ful. The Naval Yard Extension almost renders imperative the doing of the work now. If it is completed without the reclamation being taken in hand, Wanchai will be placed at a still greater disadvantage than ever and become less than ever a part of the City, to the injury of property and property owners there. As for the Colonial Government undertaking the task on its own account and risk I scê no possibility of its ever being in a position to do so; so many public works of pressing importance are crying out for funds for their cam- mencement or completion.-I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient, huable Servant,
(Signed) C. P. CHATER.
The Honourable
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
AN AMENDMENT OF THE SCHEME,
HONGKONG, 15th November, 1900. SIR-Referring to my letter of the 12th June, submitting certain proposals for the reclamation of a large tract of
foreshore in the Wanchai District, to your reply of the 13th September, to nry rejoinder of the 29th of the same mouth and to an interview with whicht His Excellency the Governor favourent me on the 22nd of October last, I have ow the honour to submit for the con- sideration of the Government an amend- ment to the proposals contained in my letter of the 12th June last which will, if accepted, enable the Marine Lot Holders in whose interests the roclama- tion will be carried out, to acquiesce in the suggestion contained in your letter of the 13th September, that the Colonial Treasury stiould derive some more direct benefit from the carrying out of the works in question. Your proposal was that the building land reclaimed from the sea should be valued and that the difference between such valuation and the cost of the reclamation when finished should be divided between the Lot Holders and the Government, the Go- vernment accepting their half of the profit by way of premium on the land reclaimed and loased to the Marine Lot Holders.
In my letter of the 29th September, I pointed out that there could be no serious objection to this proposal if the Clovernment consented to include in the cost of the Reclamation the com- pensation that would undoubtedly he claimed by the Maring Lot Holders for their loss of rental, &c., on their existing lots during the progress of the reclamation and for the diminished value of these lots in conversion into Inland Lots. I also suggested for the consideration of the Government that if any questions as to compensation arose there might be very little profit to divide.
At the interview with which I was honoured by the Governor it appeared that it was for nuny reasons undesirable that any proposals for the reclamation of the eastern district should be fort- ulated which should give rise to any complications in connection with ques- tions of compensation, but that the Government, nevertheless, felt bound to insist upon the payment to the Treasury of something in the shape of premium on the land reclaimed for building purposes and of which leases would have to be granted. I suggested therefore the following modification of my original proposals, and as it appeared to be acceptable I have now the honour to embody it in writing.
The proposed reclamation extending from the Arsenal eastward to Jardine's premises included the widening of the present praya east to a width of 75 feet, the formation of sites for the construc- tim of Chinese houses outside of that of the depth of 120 feet, the construc. tion of a road 75 feet wide beyond that: then a further strip of land for godowns of 150 foot in depth and outside of all a praya 75 feet wide. If His Excellency will consent to a further extension of this reclamation by another 75 feet to be added to the strip of land reserved
for godowns, making the depth of the proposed reclamation 520 feet instead of 445 feet as originally proposed, I think I can persuade the Marine Lot Holders to consent to pay to the Trea- sury a premium of 25 cents a foot on every foot of building land to be leased to them. This will give the Govenment & premium income of $500,000 or there- ahouts which it would not receive under the scheme as originally framed and a considerable addition to the rental derivable from the land, which will be increased by about one-seventh,
This proposal, while increasing the area of new land to be obtained by the undertakers, and giving an increased depth of water along the new sea wall, will add considerably to the cost of the work to be borne by the Marine Lot Holders. It will, however, give u definite sum to the Government without involving the Covenument in any risk of loss should any unforeseen change in the position or prospects of the Colony render the undertaking unprofitable to the owners of Marine Lots at Wau- chai.
May I ask for the favourable consi- deration of the Government for this modified proposal and for an early reply, as the sooner I can obtain the consent of the Lot Holders and the sooner the work can be commenced the better for all parties 2-I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient, humble Servant,
(Signed) C. P. CHATER.
The Honourable
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
THE GOVERNMENT'S REPLY.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
Hoxokoxa, 12th Feb., 1901. SIR-1. Referring to your letters of the 12th June, 29th September and 15th Novaber, laying before Government a scheme for the reclamation of the fore shore from Arsenal Street to East Point, and offering your services as interme diary between the Government and the Marine Lot owners, and my reply of the 13th September, to your first letter, I have the honour to inform you that your proposals have been fully consi dered in Executive Council.
RS
2. His Excellency the Governor will be glad to avail himself of your offer to act an intermediary, and is
pre- pared (provided your negotiations with The owners of the existing Marine Lots are satisfactory and lead to their assent to your proposals) to recommend to the Secretary of State the general acceptance. of the scheme, subject to the following conditions and to any modification the Secretary of State may deem necessary :—-
A." That the part of your scheme which involved the cutting down of Morrison Hill and Mount Shadwell to the level of Queen's Road having been abandoned in view of the representa. tions adverse to that proposal which have been put forward, it shall be left to the Government to decide where the materials for the reel nation work are
to be obtainerl, Leighton Hill and Mount Caroline being possibly utilized, unless any unforeseen difficulty should
arise:
B." That the proposed reclamation, including the extension of streets and a new Praya roadway, be carried out in accordance with a general plan to be drawn up, shewing the land to be re- claimed delineated thereon in such divisions as are proportionate to the froutages of the existing Marine Lots, and the land when reclaimed shall be allotted according to such divisions ;
*C." That the whole of the works. including the removal and re-erection of piers, and the extension formation.. sewering and channelling of the pro- posed new streets and new Praya wall and roadway, except on such portions of the foreshore as are situated in front of the Government properties, he ear ried out by the Public Works Department at the cost of the Marine Lot owners:
D.
That the Government shall not be called upon to incur any expense whatever, whether for drainage or sewage works or any matter connected with the scheme other than the expenditure ou account of the wall and reclamation in front of Government properties:
E." That the cost of the proposed works, except as aforesaid, be defrayed from a general fund to be constituted by the Marine Lot owners for the pur- pose, and that before the commencement of the works ench Marine Lot owner enter into a written contract with the Government binding himself to take up such allotment of the general reclama- tion as my he apportioned him by the Goverment, and that ench Marine Lot owner deposit at the Bank 25% of the total valde of the contribution to the General Fand by way of guarantee of his bona-tides, such deposit of 25% 10 he forfeited to the Crown in the event. of the Marine Lot owner subsequently failing to bake up his allotment for the reclamation. The interest aceruing on these deposits to the landed over by Government to the Marine Lot owners
"F." That during the progress of the works all calls of money for works that may be made by the Goverment upon the Marine Lot nwners shall be daly honoured by the latter, provided that the amount of such calls does not ex- card the value of the works actually done in their respective allotments :
"G." That immediately upon the completion of the reclamation of his allotment, including the construction of new streets and of the new Praya as aforesaid, each Marine Lot owner toke oat a Crown Lease for said allotment, paying an Aunual Crown Rent for the sine at the rate of $200 per quarter
aert:
"H." That no rebatement of Anuni Crown Rent shall be claimed by the Marine Lot owners for their present Holdings:
1." That the leases for the reclaimed lots be for 99 years, with the option of renewal at a rown Rent to be Exed by the Governor for the time being for one further term of 99 years:
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