CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2] — Page 218

No

23

Sir,

C.O.

5612

www.17 FLBIC

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 21st. January, 1913.

217

I have the honour to state that the Council of

the Hongkong University Union have made application for the grant

at a nominal rental of an area of land (plan enclosed) in the

neighbourhood of the University for the purposes of a recreation

ground for the students.

2.

The recreation grounds in Happy Valley, situat-

-ed at a considerable distance from the University, are allotted

to a large number of Clubs, the demand for them is in excess of the

area available and the use of them which can be permitted to the

students is therefore very restricted. There is a small area within

the University precincts available at present for recreation pur- -poses, but it is not large enough for the games of cricket and football and it may eventually be required for an extension of the

buildings.

3.

The site asked for is at present waste land on the hill-side to the West of the University, and contains some 242,000 square feet. Its proximity to the Kennedy Town Slaughter House and to certain fat boiling establishments detract from its value for purposes of European residences, and its isolated positi- -on renders it unsuitable for Chinese houses. The value of the land, taking into consideration the large amount of levelling required, is estimated at 5 cents a foot, or $12,100.00 in all, and

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

*C.,

LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,

&c.,

&c. ..

Crown