CO129-538-3 Development of Government sites and rebuilding of Government buildings 17-12-1931 - 22-10-1932 — Page 25

NO CONFIDENTIAL.

Ausd (2)

had

Sir,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG,

17th December, 1931.

25

I have the honour to inform you that I have had

recently under consideration a proposal by the Hong Kong &

Shanghai Banking Corporation for the acquisition of part of

the site of the City Hall building for the purpose of extending

the premises of the Bank.

2. The City Hall which comprises a theatre, library,

museum and assembly rooms was completed in 1870. Funds for

its erection were provided partly by public subscription and

partly by a grant from the Government, the site being leased

without premium and at a nominal rental.

The Crown Lease

contains the restrictive Covenants usual in such cases forbidding

The lease was granted to

alienation and providing that the property should revert to the

Government should the premises at any time be used for any purpose other than a City Hall.

three individuals, all of whom are now deceased, but for many

years the property has been administered by a Committee, the

existence of which would appear to have no legal foundation.

The position can, however, be regularised by the incorporation of this Committee and a Bill to this effect has already been

drafted.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

SIR P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER, G.B.E., M.C., M.P.

&C.,

&c.,

&c.

"

3.