CO129-462 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [7-10] — Page 243

27:dtrip Geek

„STEZKA ALI ensignok

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fas tir

.800ANG.0.

Copy.

Hongkong.

Acquisition of land in King's Park from

the Military Authorities for the erection of Government Quarters.

232

From

The General Officer Commanding the Forces in China.

To

The Secretary, War Office, London, S.W.1.

Head Quarters,

Hongkong, 12th May, 1920.

weld of geUSTELE

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and ro sci. MI Poszol red namibcerred 19si)10

L

mini od teverolen ad droger doiŃw ‚OSEL

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• oilmantui s'yoneliaszã ein rot droger

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1 noİyi

MISMA

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retezne? [sinolo

Sir,

With reference to War Office letter No.Hongkong 8/301 (D.L.1.a.) dated 12th February, 1920, I have the honour

to return the plan, together with a sheet of the 8" map showing the situation of the land and of the barracks.

2. The area called King's Park was given up by the War Department in 1902 expressly for a park, and it was arranged that it should be "opened" as King's Park on Coronation Day 1902. (War Office letter Hongkong 8/135 (I.G.F.1.) dated 13th June, 1902). My predecessor writing on 17th June, 1903, (same file) pointed out the advantage that this would be to the troops. The arrangement finally agreed to, however, was that the Colonial Government should pay nothing for the land as long as it remained e public perk, but any part alienated for another purpose should be charged in the Colonial Military Lands Account at half the price of the neighbouring building land, i.e. at $5,303 an acre (Lewis Memorandum, foot of page 4). The principle that this land was to be a public park for ever was thus aban- doned, and I am not clear that there remains any obligation on the part of the Colonial Government to consider the wishes of the War Department in the disposition of the land.

3. I am glad, therefore, to have the unexpected oppor- tunity to point out that King's Park is the nearest open lend to

the