CO129-420 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [1-2] — Page 190

1

N°

34.

10876

EN & MATIC

187

HONGKONG.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

26th January, 1915.

sir.

I have the honour to trenorit the enclosed copy of a letter from Archdeacon Barnett, Secretary, Church Missionary Society, in which application is made for exemption from payment of rates in respect of St. John's Hall, a hostel erected by that Society and maintained solely as a residence for students attending the

University. A similar application has also been received from the London Missionary Society in respect of the London kission Hostel in connection with the University.

2.

These two institutions are practically on the same footing as the University Hall, which as a portion of the University premises is exempt from assessment, with this exception that the resident wardens appointed by the Societies to supervise the students do not necessarily devote their whole time to University

work or work in connection with the Hostels.

J

I am, therefore, in favour of renting the a particl

exemption from assessment. I am advised, however, that under the

provisions of the Rating Ordinance 20.6 of 1901, the Governor is not

vested with any discretionary powera of exemption and I have, there-.

fore, to request permission to amend Section 39 of the Ordinance by

the addition of a clause empowering the Covernor-in-Council to

authorise the exemption, wholly or partially, from nasessment at the discretion of Council of Hostels attached to the University.

THE RICHT HONOURAELE

LEWIS HARCOURT. E.P.,

&C..

&c.