CO129-390 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [5-6] — Page 68

C OP Y.

Sir,

Bonobosure 1.

Roman Catholic Cathedral.4

1977700

Hongkong, 8th. Larch,

C9

98 31 1 X 12/

I have the honour to apply to Your Excellency

for a piece of Crown Land at Shaukiwan, measuring ten thousand (10,000) square feet or thereabouts, for the erection of a chapel and residence for the priest to be assigned to that district, for the Roman Catholic community residing at Shaukiwan and vicinity.

The site herein applied for is indicated on

1.

the accompanying sketch.

2.

As far as I am advised, the Government, by granting the site will not be alienating from the Crow, and of any considerable value. Whereas by the erection of a chapel, where the Catholics may have a place of worship at a convenient dis-

-tance,

and within easy reach of their dwelling houses, the value of residential properties in the locality in question will be enhanced rather than otherwise.

3.

Hitherto, Divine Service has been held in one of the rooms of a small girls' school, which, besides being un- -suitable for the purpose, provides wholly inadequate accommoda- -tion for the needs of the growing comanity of a village which bids fair to become an important township in the future.

4.

There are now in the district over one hundred Chinese Christians. There are also the families of the European employees of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's sugar works and Taikoo Docks, and the soldiers quartered at Lyeemoon Barracks. For all these, and for the Sisters of Charity and school children at Shaukiwan, the provision of a suitable place of worship has now become an urgent necessity.

5.

In view of the above considerations, I shall esteem it a great favour and benefit to the Catholic community,

the