CO129-542-15 Land at Sham Shui Po- occupied by Military authorities 6-1-1933 - 31-10-1933 — Page 8

قادر

50.

che not yet in

a

reply to (2).

Fig.

12/8 position to

jurther intormation before

8

Arranging

a

meeting on

the lands

question

Mrresweeney

As regards Hongkong ? be in a montes You will no doubt neply regarding the general questions

16.8.33

with

1a

Yes

I shall

deal

General point elsewhere.

Lymedy.

17.8.33

mahan.

17.8.

6 15.0

Suggests that

millany unthonties

shall continue.

8.9.

the

erms

our

which the

lo

conpy

be

left. For uncon

Question

of permanent

hav

Sham Shue Po

until the

could

iccommodation for the garrison

progressed further

This writer

read

in

conjuncách

with 13 in

12541

in

says

affect

that W.O.

propose to main

• yrs.

This seems to me to make it all

the

Page

9

the more important that an early agreement

should be reached regarding the terms upon

which they are to remain.

The War Office have not taken the

line feared by Mr. Calder in his minute of

23.2.33. that the 3rd Battalion is required

for the defence of Hong Kong and that,

consequently, the Colony should provide the

land without payment. There is no indication

that this line was taken by the Army authorities

in Hong Kong. If it had been, it seems

probable that some mention of the fact would

have been made by the Governor. On the

contrary, it appears from the 2nd enclosure

in (1) that the Colonial Government originally

agreed to forego rent of the land at Sham

Shui Po as an act of generosity.

In these circumstances I do not

my self see why we should forego an endeavour

to obtain rent from the War Office as

Mr. McSweeney considers we should in his

minute of 22.2.33. The action taken following

that minute did not preclude such an endeavour,

and the War Office have not, in fact, contested

in (6) the principle that rental should be paid, enunciated in (1), as they should have

done if they objected to it. The fact that

they are anxious to postpone the issue seems

to indicate that some such liability is

liquidate contemplated which they hope to include as

part of the larger settlement.

Page

Before

age 9

age 9

Pag

Pag

Before communicating again with Hong

Kong, I think we should acknowledge (6); say

that, in view of the value of the land at Sham

Shui Po and the large loss of revenue which the Colonial Government is sustaining as a result of its occupation by the military authorities,which has extended far beyond the period originally contemplated and which it now appears that the War Office may desire to extend for some years,

is desirous of the Secretary of State wilkbo glad to be able

ta effectiya a settlement of the terms of its continued occupation with as little delay as

possible. Say that it appears to him that only the settlement of the period during which the further occupation is to continue need be held

over for consideration until the question of permanent accommodation for the garrison has

progressed further, and that the other terms

upon which the occupation of the Sham Shui Po

area may continue might with advantage be settled in advance of any decision regarding permanent accommodation for the garrison. Say that the Secretary of State hopes that after

further consideration the Army Council will

accept this view, and in that event he will be

glad to receive such further comments as the

Army Council may wish to make upon the Governor's despatch with a view to a separate settlement being reached regarding the terms on which the

occupation of the Sham Shui Po area may be continued year by year.

26.9.33

10

e 10

e 10Page 11

11