CO129-494 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [9-10] — Page 27

24

No387

R

Her 44753125

זי

sir,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG." Ist Dogtember, 1926.

C. 18677

4

OCT 1926

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt

of your despatch No.430 of the 26th November, 1925, on the question of this Government's policy in the matter of land resumption in the New Territories, and to express my regret that a reply has been so long delayed. Considerable enquiry into the historical and other aspects of the question have been necessary, and, as you are aware, my hands have been, since my arrival, more than full with other grave problems. Moreover, although the solicitors for the Memorialists enquire periodically regarding your decision in this matter, the complete collapse of the speculative land-boom has induced not a few who were not actually given exchanges of land to apply, in lieu, for the cash compensation fixed by Government, while others who at first refused cash offers,

are now quite ready to accept them.

2.

I would point out that the Convention is

capablo of a different construction from that placed upon

it in paragraph 5 of your despatch now under reply. The

difference between the two possible constructions can

perhaps be best indicated by means of paraphrases. If

construed as you suggest, the clause in question would read

somewhat as follows:-

LIEUTENANT COLONEL L.C.M.S. AMERY, M.P.,

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

&c.,

&C..

&c.

There