CO129-542-15 Land at Sham Shui Po- occupied by Military authorities 6-1-1933 - 31-10-1933 — Page 26

3.

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limited access is required for full advantage to be

taken of the movement. Moreover while there has been

progress on both sides of the Camp the division of

what should be a continuous Chinese City into two parts cannot fail to have a retarding effect,

especially on the further side.

4. It is difficult to state when the original

emergency may be said to have ended, but it has

certainly been over for some years and the question of the terms on which the Military Authorities are

to continue in occupation of the Sham Shui Po area

requires early consideration.

5. The total area is 2,089,875 square feet and its value is estimated at $1.50 per square foot. On the basis of a return of 4 per cent. on the capital value, this gives an annual rental of $125,392.50 or in round figures $125,000.

The Colonial Government has therefore been

allowing free occupation by the Military Authorities since 1927 of land on which it might have expected a rental of at least $125,000 a year and as all question of a crisis requiring special treatment is now over it is felt that the position cannot be longer main-

tained and that the Government is entitled to require that an annual rental of $125,000 shall be paid by the Military Authorities for the area in question as

from January 1st, 1933.

6.

I have therefore the honour to request that this question may be taken up with the proper

authorities.

7.

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