HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY- Yes.
HON. MR. POLLOCK-The next question I want to ask is: What, approximately, will be the cost of reprovisioning!
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THE COLONIAL SECRETARY—It is rather difficult to say. The Government's estimate is that it will be less than this sum of $17,000,000. We have on one one side the £114,000 and also the credit of this land beyond Laichikok to set against that 17 million dollars owing: that leaves debit balance of about 15 million dollars. The total cost of reprovisioning will be less than that sum. I ought also to mention that it was part of the arrangement with the War Office that we have to reprovision fully, whatever the cost may be. If we do not use the whole of the debit balance on this re- provisioning the military authorities will call upon us for the remainder of that balance for future works.
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THE COLONIAL SECRETARY--For 1921, 1922, and the first nine months of 1923 they were seven million dollars. That is the total, approximately, up to the time of Sir John Oakley's arbitration.
HON. MR. POLLOCK -- Then, does the cost of reprovisioning include the cost of laying-out?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY—Yes. The definition of reprovisioning is:
" Re- provisioning connotes the placing of the troops in a position in no way less ad- vantageous than their present positions as regards, primarily, strategic needs, and also housing communications, water, light, recreation, and general amenities."
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HON. MR. POLLOCK I suppose the military authorities, assuming we port this resolution and it is carried, will allow the Public Works staff of the Colony full liberty to survey this land so that the Public Works Department HON. MR. POLLOCK-I understand that may be in a position to advise the the cost may be 15 million.
Government in regard to putting up the land for sale?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY assented. HON. MR. POLLOCK-Then, I under- stand that 15 millions will have be paid out of current revenue?
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THE COLONIAL SECRETARY-We have reserves to a very large amount.
HON. MR. POLLOCK-Is it then pro- posed to reprovision out of our reserves? THE COLONIAL SECRETARY --It is not a matter of putting up a very large sum at once. Payment will go on, of course, as buildings progress, and it will no doubt be put before the Council in due -course. We have cash in hand.
HON. MR. POLLOCK-At all events the point I want particularly to em- phasise is that I understand it will not be a book entry. We shall have to find the money somehow. Another point is the figures relating to the Parade Ground, Murray
Murray Barracks and land across Queen's Road in the agreement of March, 1922, were considerably less than the figures now before us. Can the Colonial Secretary give us these figures?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY-I can send them to you.
HON. MR. POLLOCK-Then, Sir, an- other question is. What were the totals for the land sales of 1921, 1922, and 1923 respectively?
HIS EXCELLENCY-You do not mean surveying; you mean making the lay-out. Undoubtedly the military will grant all facilities. When the resolution has been passed, it will be the first thing the Government would consider.
HON. MR. POLLOCK-I mean, Sir, that I suppose that lay-out could be made almost immediately, and there will be no necessity to wait till the military have moved out?
HIS EXCELLENCY--Quite,
point .
HON. MR. POLLOCK--Another I should now like to ask is: Whether, in the event of this resolution being accepted. the Government will consider, the question of bringing out considerable staffs in sufficient time for them to deal with this very considerable quantity of land which will then be at the disposal of the Government?
In this way a certain amount of interest would be saved.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Certainly.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY---There is one point which occurs to me, though it does not arise directly out of the hon. member's question. Various persons have asked me why there is no separate charge in this valuation for buildings. The reason is that the land, with, for
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