CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 253

From

-

TO :-

lenorandua F.

Extracted from Hong Kong 8/318.

250

The General Officer Commanding

HEADQUARTERS,

Chine Command.

CHINA CŒLIAND,

The secretary,

war Office,

London, S.W.1.

HONG KONG,

Sir,

14th January, 1922,

I have the honour to refer to my letter 8575 og 2nd May, 1921

on the subject of the proposed Naval and Military Club.

Since that letter, I have forwarded certain proposals as to the policy which should govern the surrender of the Military lends in Victoria to the Colonial Government.

If and when that surrender takes place, there will be a need for an institution in Victoria where soldiers on leave from the proposed cantonment could resort. The time is thus opportune for consideration of a joint Naval and Military Club on the lines of the Union Jack Club in London,

So far as the Royal Navy is concerned, the present Xakea Wa.... Canteen, which is, I understand, the property of the Officers and men of the Fleet, will soon have to be vaoated owing to the resumption of the site by the Civil Government.

So far as the Army is concerned, such a club seeas en object towards which a grant, equal to what the fleet may obtain in compensation for their canteen (estimated at $200,000) might be provided from the Central Funds referred to in your letter 3/Gen.No./ |179 (0.1.) of 15th November, 1920. The Club should be self-supporting. The Naval funds plus an equal sun from the Central Funds should go far towards the erection of a suitable building.

A site can be found close to the Dockyard, partly on Naval and Bartly on military ground, being on the North side of Queen's Road and extending from "7" 31ock Wellington Barracks to the Southern end of the Naval Terrace, Possible objections from the Naval point of view are sean to erecting the club in such close proximity to the Javel Terrace, but it is anticipated that the projected straightening queen's Road will enable an arrangement to be reached with the Colonia Authorities under which the actual site will be on the South side of the improved queen's Road,

The matter is urgent so far as the Royal Navy is concerned, f will become so for the Amy, should the surrender of the Military lends in Victoria sea likely to eventuate. It would therefore be of great assistance to the Naval Commander-in-Chief and the General Officer Comanding to know what is the view talen by the Army Counci] this matter,

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

(ad.)

Lieutenant-General,

Commanding the Force in China,