CO129-322 - Acting Governor May - 1904 [1-5] — Page 505

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed
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Enclosure 5.

8th April, 1904

503

selected or elected for their capacity for dealing with large questions connected with schemes of resumption of property, and I am strongly of opinion that it will be better to constitute an entirely independent Board to advise the Government on these questions, leaving the Governor free to nominate suitable individuals, irrespective of whether they are Members of the Sanitary Board or Legislative Council, to be Unofficial Members of the Board.

7. With regard to paragraph 3 of your Despatch I enclose a statement showing how the resumed area in Taipingshan has been dealt with. Government has devoted to public purposes the greater portion of the area. It is true that the price realised for the portions sold has not been high enough to recoup Government proportionately for the cost of resumption. The principal reason is that at the time of resumption no deduction was made in valuation in respect of the insanitary condition of the property. In other words Government paid too much for the property, and in trying to recoup itself asked too much for it on re-sale. The result is that much of the property remained unsold.

Under the existing Resumption Ordinance Government ought to obtain insanitary property at a rate which will on the laying out of new streets give a good return for the outlay in premium and enhanced Crown Rent after deducting the areas devoted to streets. I would add that the object in view in forming a trust or Advisory Board as the case may be is not to create more open spaces but rather to drive new streets through areas that are at present too densely packed with houses.

I shall be glad to learn at your early convenience whether you approve the modified scheme herein proposed.

8.

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Enclosure 5. 8th April, 1904 503 selected or elected for their capacity for dealing with large questions connected with schemes of resumption of property, and I am strongly of opinion that it will be better to constitute an entirely independent Board to advise the Government on these questions, leaving the Governor free to nominate suitable individuals, irrespective of whether they are Members of the Sanitary Board or Legislative Council, to be Unofficial Members of the Board. 7. With regard to paragraph 3 of your Despatch I enclose a statement showing how the resumed area in Taipingshan has been dealt with. Government has devoted to public purposes the greater portion of the area. It is true that the price realised for the portions sold has not been high enough to recoup Government proportionately for the cost of resumption. The principal reason is that at the time of resumption no deduction was made in valuation in respect of the insanitary condition of the property. In other words Government paid too much for the property, and in trying to recoup itself asked too much for it on re-sale. The result is that much of the property remained unsold. Under the existing Resumption Ordinance Government ought to obtain insanitary property at a rate which will on the laying out of new streets give a good return for the outlay in premium and enhanced Crown Rent after deducting the areas devoted to streets. I would add that the object in view in forming a trust or Advisory Board as the case may be is not to create more open spaces but rather to drive new streets through areas that are at present too densely packed with houses. I shall be glad to learn at your early convenience whether you approve the modified scheme herein proposed. 8.
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Enclosure 5. 8th Abril, 1904 503 selected or elected for their capacity for dealing with large questions connected with schemes of resumption of property, and I am strongly of opinion that it will be better to constitute an entirely independent Board to advise the Government on these questions, leaving the Governor free to nominate suitable indivi- duals, irrespective of whether they are Members of the Sanitary Board or Legislative Council, to be Unofficial Members of the Board. 7. With regard to paragraph 3 of your Despatch I enolose a statement shewing how the resumed area in Taipingshan has been dealt with. Government has devoted to public purposes the greater portion of the area. It is true that the price realised for the portions sold has not been high enough to recoup Govern- ment proportionately for the cost of resumption. The principal reason is that at the time of resumption no deduction was made in valuation in respect of the insanitary condition of the pro- perty. In other words Government paid too much for the property, and in trying to recoup itself asked too much for it on re-sale. The result is that much of the property remained unsold. Under the existing Resumption Ordinance Government ought to obtain insanitary property at a rate which will on the laying out of new streets give a good return for the outlay in premium and enhanced Crown Rent after deducting the areas devoted to streets. I would add that the object in view in forming a trust or Advisory Board as the case may be is not to create more open spaces but rather to drive new streets through areas that are at present too densely packed with houses. I shall be glad to learn at your early convenience whether you approve the modified scheme herein proposed 8.
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Enclosure 5.

8th Abril, 1904

503

selected or elected for their capacity for dealing with large

questions connected with schemes of resumption of property, and

I am strongly of opinion that it will be better to constitute an

entirely independent Board to advise the Government on these

questions, leaving the Governor free to nominate suitable indivi-

duals, irrespective of whether they are Members of the Sanitary

Board or Legislative Council, to be Unofficial Members of the

Board.

7.

With regard to paragraph 3 of your Despatch

I enolose a statement shewing how the resumed area in Taipingshan

has been dealt with. Government has devoted to public purposes the

greater portion of the area. It is true that the price realised

for the portions sold has not been high enough to recoup Govern-

ment proportionately for the cost of resumption. The principal reason is that at the time of resumption no deduction was made

in valuation in respect of the insanitary condition of the pro-

perty. In other words Government paid too much for the property,

and in trying to recoup itself asked too much for it on re-sale.

The result is that much of the property remained unsold.

Under the existing Resumption Ordinance

Government ought to obtain insanitary property at a rate which

will on the laying out of new streets give a good return for the

outlay in premium and enhanced Crown Rent after deducting the

areas devoted to streets. I would add that the object in view

in forming a trust or Advisory Board as the case may be is not

to create more open spaces but rather to drive new streets

through areas that are at present too densely packed with houses.

I shall be glad to learn at your early

convenience whether you approve the modified scheme herein

proposed

8.

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