CO129-322 - Acting Governor May - 1904 [1-5] — Page 282

two.

2.

You

280

Military Contribution of this Colony was fixed at 20% of its

Revenue exclusive of Land Sales it was stipulated that such

contribution should be in full return for the annual cost of

the Imperial Garrison including all capital expenditure re-

quired for Military Lands and Buildings. The stipulation is

embodied in Ordinance No. 1 of 1901.

The effect of your instruction would there-

fore be that the Colony would pay in money or money's worth

(land) the sum of $493,177 for the area to be devoted to the

"King's Park',

4.

But the Colony never contemplated making

the Park on any such condition. I beg to refer you to the

telegram from Major-General Gascoigne, at the time administer-

452ing the Goverment, dated the 28th. of April, 1902, in which

OL

your predecessor was first asked to sanction the conversion

of portion of the Military Reserves at Kowloon into a Public

Park. It is distinctly stated in that telegram that the Military

Authorities would receive a suitable equivalent area in ex-

change.

18896 200351

In his telegrams of the 13th. of May, and

4th, of June, 1902, Major-General Gascoigne re-affirmed that 02 the local Civil and Military Authorities were anxious to and

would ultimately come to an agreement for the transfer of the

land, and in a telegram of the 7th. of June in the same year, 20528

your predecessor sanctioned the opening of the Park on the 02

understanding that the Rifle Ranges could not be surrendered

till new ones were provided. Copies of the telegrams in question

are enclosed for facility of reference.

Enclosure 1.

13th May 42+ the June, 1900.

Finally, in his Despatch No. 258 of the

18th.