CO129-317 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [4-6] — Page 451

1

COPY.

Enclosure 3.

Sir,

445

Head Quarters,

Hongkong, 23rd. February, 1903.

1.

With reference to your letter No. 447/03/E,

dated 30th. January, 1903, on the subject of acquisition by the

War Department, of land north of Kowloon City for the purposes of a Rifle Range, I have the honour by direction of His Excellency

the Major-General Commanding Troops, to reply as under:-

It is recognised, under the circumstances stated in paragraph 2 of your letter, that the Colonial Govern- ment cannot agree to part in perpetuity with the area proposed in this office letter No. 76/174/A of the 9th. January, 1903, but it is hoped, however, that the War Department will be allowed occupation for at least 10 years.

2.

In regard to paragraph 3, the conditions therein set forth are accepted by His Excellency the Major- General Commanding, but he desires at the same time to point out that in view of the existing Musketry Regulations.it would be impossible for the War Department to be bound by any fixed ar- rangement with outside Associations such as, for instance, the Hongkong Rifle Association.

Being aware, however, that His Excellency the Governor has very much at heart the encouragement of general rifle practice throughout the Colony a proposal was made to the Committee of the above Association in which it was suggested that their Association should amalgamate with the present Hongkong

Army Association.

As will be seen by the enclosed copy of the

Honorary

The Honourable

The Colonial Secretary.