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(Signed) G. GRINDLE
Hong Kong 8/345 (MSOF. B. ).
Dear Gent,
-
War Office,
Whitehall,
S.W.I.
February, 1923,
We have had under consideration your official letter of 29th January No.3888/23 - enclosing a copy of a telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong regarding the payment of the surveyor whom it is proposed to employ in connection with the lands and buildings question.
We cannot accept the governor's suggestion that unless the valuation arrived at by the local military authorities is accepted here, we are liable for the expenses of an ht independent valuation under paragraph 7 of Colonial Office Military Land Circular of 30th December 1894, The natural interpretation of the paragraph seems obvious to us. same time we should be glad to know whether you think it
At the would be politic in present circumstances and likely to conduce towards a favourable settlement of the outstanding question of the £114,000 overpayment by the Colony, if we were to waive the question of payment by the Colony for the valuation in this instance, without prejudice to the question of the correct interpretation of the paragraph. We have, as you will know, done everything possible to meet the Colony on the Lands question, and to expedite a settlement, but we gather from your official letter of 30th November that they have become tired of the delay in reaching finality, and that there is some danger of their withdrawing their offer with regard to the contribution in consequence.
to the Colony
We should have to go to the Treasury for authority to make the payment to the surveyor, and should have to explain to them our reasons for being generous on this point. What we should like from you is an opinion whether a graceful
0.E.J. Gent Esq.,
Colonial office,
S.W.1.
/concession
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