CO129-453 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [1-3] — Page 549

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CONFIDENTIAL.

My Lord,

27405

524

K

7 AS

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 28th. March, 1919.

62547/18.02

Gor

27403

With reference to my Confidential Despatch

of 1st. November, 1918, I have the honour to inform Your Lord-

-ship that the taking over by this Government of the control of

local shipping in April, 1918, has resulted in a profit of some $2,300,000, the greater part of which has already been

received, the final payments being due in August next. Of this

sum 81,829,000 has been remitted to the credit of the Colony's

General Account with the Crow Agents.

2.

This money represents profits which would

have been made by certain British md Chinese shipomers

resident in this Colony if no control had been imposed, and I

an clearly of opinion that it should be used for the direct

benefit of the British and Chinese communities here.

3.

As regards the British community the

greatest need no existing, and one which will undoubtedly become intensified as time goes on, is the provision of suit-

-able housing accommodation at moderate rents. In my Con-

03/19 -fidential Despatch of the 24th. March, 1919, I have advocated

the opening up of the remainder of the Hill District by means of a road and tramway, but that scheme, will only benefit the comparatively well to do European commercial and professional classes. I propose that a sum not exceeding one and a half million dollars (81,500,000) of the profits of the local

shipping

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

VISCOUNT MILNER, G.C.B.,

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