CO129-450 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1918 [10-12] — Page 142

➜ CONFIDENTIAL,

Sir,

REC

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C3211

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GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 23rd, October, 1918.

143

I have the honour to inform you that during the past 10 years a number of houses have been built on the portion of the island named Cheung Chau, or Dumb-bell Island, shown on the enclosed plan, by British and American Missionary Societies as a place of residence for their work- -ers during the Summer. Several residents of Hongkong have also recently bought houses on the island, and others in- tend to do so. The number of sites suitable for houses is limited, and it has become a fairly compect European Community) which quite separate from the large Chinese fishing village, occupies the low lying ground in the centre of the island.

2.

There is reason to believe that certain Chinese residents of Hongkong intend either to purchase land on the portion of the island referred to, if it should be put up to suction, or to apply for sites in the ordinary

Having regard to the fact that there are many other localities suitable for residential purposes on other is- lands, and all along the main road to Castle Peak now under construction, I consider it most desirable that the portion of the island I have mentioned, and also the other end of the island marked green on the plan should be declared a European reservation. The place has been made by the mis- sionaries and other pioneers and should, I consider, be

way.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

WALTER LONG, M.P.,

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