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occupied. It is, therefore, natural that a good deal of feeling is caused by the reflection that large areas in the best quarter for business purposes are occupied by Military Establishments, which could apparently be housed elsewhere without any detriment to the efficiency of the defence of the Colony.
4.
I enclose a plan showing the military lands in the Colony, the preparation of which has caused the delay in sending
I do not accept as to Your Lordship the report of the debate. correct the areas which are shown as military reserves but that is a side issue. The important point to notice is the large blocks of land marked in red in the centre of Victoria and of Kowloon. Comment is perhaps superfluous but I may mention that a large part of the land in the best quarter of Kowloon is occupied by matsheds containing the mules attached to the Hongkong and Singapore Battalion Royal Garrison Artillery.
5.
The question is one which excites perhaps more general interest than any other in Hongkong and I submit that it has become a matter of urgency to put an end to a state of affairs which is hampering the development of the commerce of the Colony by transferring the Military Establishments to positions outside the towns of Victoria and Kowloon,
If the matter is dealt with by correspondence with
the War Office the resulting discussions are likely to be interminable and I venture to urge that the General Officer Commanding and I should be authorised to settle the matter on the
spot.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
humble servant,
7. E. Stults
Governor,&c.
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