CO129-402 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [7-8] — Page 378

No 281

C

CO

29575

Rrat 25 UG 13

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 5th. August, 1913.

369

Sir, o

921

88-9

With reference to Lord Knutsford's Despatch No.

February.

38 of the 20th. February, 1889, I have the honour to inform you

that on the 13th. October, 1890, the Crown demised Inland Lot 1244

to certain Chinese gentlemen as trustees for the Chinese Chamber of Commerce for 999 years at a nominal Crown Rent of 21.00 per annum. The lesse contained a proviso that the premises or any part thereof should be used for no other purpose whatever than "for the lawful

requirements of the said Chamber of Com erce", without the previous licence of the Crown signified in writing by the Covernor of the Colony.

2.

Notwithstanding this the trustees leased the property on the 20th. April, 1902, for 30 years to two gentlemen on behalf of the Ellis Kadoorie School, and the Governor on the 15th.

September, 1905, granted a licence permitting the premises to bé used for the purposes of the school, the licence being revocable at any time. Moreover, the Goverment subsequently made a Building (ranti to the School of 87,000 and in this connection a deed of trust dated the 19th. Larch, 1907, was executed. The building grant was recon- -mended in Sir K. Nathan's Despatch No. 227 of 27th. September, 1905, vand duly approved.

3.

I am advised that the legal effect of these

transactions is that the trustees for the Chinese Chamber of

Commerce now hold Inland Lot 1244 upon the following trusts, viz.:-

RIGHT HONOURABLE

LE IS HARCOURT, M.P.,

(a)

{

3899

MC.,

&c.,

&c...