CO129-317 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [4-6] — Page 449

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COPY.

Enclosure 2

443.

Colonial Secretary's Office,

Hongkong, 30th. January, 1903.

Sir,

I am directed to acknowledge the receipt

of your letter No. 76/174/A of the 9th. instant enclosing a plan

of an area of ground north of Kowloon City which it is proposed

should be acquired by the Military Authorities for the purposes

of a Rifle Range in exchange for the Ranges surrendered by them

in the Kowloon Military Reserve.

2.

In reply I am to inform you that the whole

area marked green in your plan forms part of a larger area which

has been set aside by the Colonial Government for the purposes of

a European Reservation; while the area marked red abuts on the

same reservation and even slightly encroaches upon it. In view

of these circumstances, and of the fact that all the land in the neighbourhood of Kowloon City will in the future probably be of great value to the Colonial Government for building and other purposes, His Excellency the Governor regrets that he cannot agree to part with the proposed area in perpetuity.

3.

I am directed, however, to inform you that

the Colonial Government are prepared to allow the Military Authorities to make use of the area for the purpose indicated on the distinct understanding that they will cease to so use it when called upon to do so by the Colonial Government, and that so long as they are in occupation of the area they will allow the range to be used by the Hongkong Rifle Association by arrangement with the Military Authorities. The Government on the other hand

Colonel L. E. Brown,

Commanding Royal Engineer.

is