CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9] — Page 225

;

No

10 307.

Enclosures

Sir,

REC

со

30884

Aras 22 SEP II

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG, 31st. August, 1911.

223

I have the honour to draw your attention

to the enclosed extract from page xvii of the Report of the

Hongkong Land Commission of 1886 - 1887 and to state that the

Land Officer and his predecessors have hitherto always taken ther

view that an option was offered to the holders of all leases for

75 years dated prior to 3rd. March, 1849, to extend their leases

for a further period of 924 years and that, in the absence of

express agreement to the contrary that option would be avail-

-able until the last day of the term of 75 years. This view is

shared by the Crown Solicitor, Mr.F. B. L. Bowley, who also

states that it is the view which has been adopted by all pro-

-perty owners and their advisers.

2.

Accordingly such extensions have always

been granted as a matter of course and I myself signed such an

extension of Inland Lot No. 175 in last April and I signed

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

&c.,

LEVIS HARCOURT, M.P.,

&c..

&c...

three