CO129-542-15 Land at Sham Shui Po- occupied by Military authorities 6-1-1933 - 31-10-1933 — Page 25

F

Encl. No.2.

Enclo.No.3.

(Not available in

क)

2.

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the five coloured red on the plan have remained in

private ownership.

3. It had originally been proposed to charge

rent for the different areas occupied in the Colony

by the Shanghai Defence Force and the Military

Authorities were so informed.

But on further

consideration it was decided that no rent should be

charged and a letter, copy attached, was sent to the

Military Authorities. It was however never contem-

plated that the occupation would be other than of

short duration, and in respect of property other

than that at Sham Shui Po this view was correct.

Sham Shui Po however still continues in military

occupation, and the hutments are now, it is understood,

showing signs of deterioration so that the question

of their replacement by more permanent structures

may arise at any time.

But so long as three

battalions are stationed in Hong Kong there is at

present nowhere else for the third battalion to go.

It is therefore unlikely that the Military Authorities

will wish to give up this area for the next few years.

Meanwhile Government is losing revenue on a large

area on which it has expended considerable sums and

the development of the district, of which a key plan

is attached, is being seriously hindered. The area

on which the Military Camp stands is eminently

adapted to encouraging general development in the

district, which had gone far before 1927 and has

since continued; but the sea frontage of the

reclamation to which the public at present has only

limited