CO129-533-2 Proposed site for new Naval Hospital 24-1-1931 - 19-1-1932 — Page 15

N-FOR DISA

SCHEME

MEN 3

Any further communication

should be addressed to-

The Secretary of the Admiralty,

London, S.W. 1.

C.E.in 0. quoting/3/31/182a.

2€JA1J31

1.15

L.P.-No. 8END

Admiralty, S. W. 1.

""

2 January .............1981....

Sir,

/on 1 2903/30

With reference to Admiralty Letter 11th September, 1930, C.E.in C.1879/30 Pt. 1/1400, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that They are still in communication with the Treasury concerning the proposal to build a new Naval Hospital at Hong Kong on the site at Stubbs Road offered by the Colony in part exchange for the existing R.N. Hospital.

2. When discussing this scheme at a meeting in Hong Kong on 3rd March, 1930, H.E. the Officer

Administering the Government stated that the offer of this site would remain open for at least another 12 months, but it now seems improbable that a decision will be reached in time to enable My Lords to accept the offer during the financial year ending 31st March, 1931.

3. Advantage has recently been taken of the presence in London of the Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong, to explain the position to him, and he expressed the opinion that the Colonial Government might be prepared to extend their offer for a limited period.

4. My Lords are most anxious to be assured on this point and, as the matter is one of great urgency in its bearing upon Navy Estimates, I am to ask that H.E. the Governor may be requested by telegram to cable whether the Hong Kong Government will allow their offer to remain open for another year, say till 31st March, 1932, so as to admit of a final decision on the scheme being arrived at in connection with the 1932 Estimates.

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office, S.W.1.

Au

(4

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

for Secrete

IBH