CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 255

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With reference to your letter No. 0.R. 9860 dated 19in 17 1988, I communded by the Army Council to inform you that the proposed moves of troops to new locations and surrender of on lands and properties now occupied by the troops, sa noon Be Batisfactory new sodommodation has been prepared, is approved u principle according to the Sche aules A. and B. annexed, and subject to za agreement being arrived at with the Colonial Sovernment as to the conditions of transfer,

3. The proposal that the procedure be generally governed by Solonial Office Circular Jespatches of the 9th June 1890 and "ŋth December 1894, is agreed to.

3. There is no objection to the proposal to open a special account for this particular scheme, it being understood that this special account will be closed within a reasonable period, say 18 months, of the transfer of troops to their new locations, and that any balance due will be oredited to the existing Military Lands Adcount which will not be close:l, but will run concurrently to facilitate transzotions in lands, buildings sto. surrendered and replaced outside the special surrender now wider discussion.

4. Having regard to the magnitude of the transaction, the Council are not prepared to accept the valuation arrived at locally. It is considered that it would prove more satisfactory in the long run to both parties that an independent surveyor of standing be appointe l as provided in paragraph 7 of the Colonial Office Dircular of 30th December, 1994, and à further cosť", on this subject will be made to you. it is not considere i tha. the delay arising from such a valuation is of material consequet since its completion need not delay the preparation of new schemes, nor the works when approved.

5. In view of the circumstances that the Lispossession of the military from their present holdings is due to considerations of commercial needs of the Colony, the Army Council carmot a baj, t the limitation expressed in your paragraph 4 by the words "up the full amount of the credit standing to the War Department i the Surrender Account". It would appear in this case that thị cost of reprovision of military nen:is will be less than this credit, but even were this not the case, the Army Council would feel justified in claiming that the whole costs should be borna by the Uolonial dovernment.

It is also to be noted that the proposed change to new sites for troops may involve the provision of items addition}" those actually surraniered in detail in order to meet militai

The General officer Gomanding,

The Forces in China,

Hans Kor