CO129-479 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [1-3] — Page 342

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REL 12 MAN33

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 2nd February, 1923.

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My Lord Duke,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt

of Your Grace's Confidential despatch of the 30th November

with regard to the Military Lands question.

2.

The Secretary of State's Circular despatches

of the 9th June, 1890, and the 30th December, 1894, were written with the object and purpose of defining a Colony's liability in the matter of the provision of land and buildings for Imperial troops, the Colony's obligation

being limited to the maintaining intact, in kind or in value, the Colonial Wilitary lands, which were to be regarded as a permanent defence fund the integrity of which must be observed. It was at the same time pointed out that the Colony was under a further general obligation to contribute, according to its means, to its own defence; but

in the case of Hongkong that obligation is defined by the

Defence Contribution Ordinence, 1901. Under that Ordinance

the Colony pays 20% of its revenues to the Imperial

Government as "a fixed contribution in full return for the

annual cost of the Imperial Garrison, including all capit-]

expenditure required for Military lands and buildings, and

the cost of maintenance of all military works and buildings,

and the cost of lodgings in lieu of barracks, and all other military charges whatsoever".

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE, K.G.,

&C..

ac..

&c.

3.