CO129-523-7 Removal of Navy Armament Depot from Hong Kong to Stonecutters Island 6-2-1930 - 8-1-1931 — Page 22

Sir,

CONFIDENTIAL.

M./C.E.in.C.0136/30.

•

22

5th November,

0

I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that They propose to remove the existing naval magazines at Hong Kong to a new site owing to the development of the fort of Victoria.

2. The naval arsenal is situated in proximity to a thickly populated area and has long been recognised as a source of considerable danger. This danger will be accentuated by the reclamation scheme at Last Fraya, which is rapidly approaching completion and will result, the

Hong Kong Government anticipates, in an increase of

100,000 in the population in the immediate neighbourhood

of the magazines.

3. Their Lordships propose to evacuate the arsenal Yard and Kellett Island Magazines as soon as alternative

accommodation is made available at Stonecutters 1sland.

The detailed plans are in hand but some months will elapse

The Under Secretary of State,

Foreign Office,

before

M.

5.77.1.