created by the necessity of building new accommodation on this scale may well be of the order of two million pounds, and the Council have accordingly learnt with gratitude that, although Hong Kong is, by reason of its Colonial Military contribution, exempt from a particular liability to contribute to the cost of military lands and buildings, the Colony proposes, subject to Mr. MacDonald's approval, not to demand cash payment for the amount by which the value of the land likely to be required at Stanley Peninsula and Kau Lung Tsai exceeds the sum standing to the credit of the War Department in the Colonial Military Lands Account.
The land so to be transferred free of charge will, of course, revert to the Colony's possession in the event of vacation by the military authorities at some future date, but, as the main controversy is at present undecided, the Council must stipulate, before entering into the large commitment involved, that it be agreed by the Colony that, in the event of such vacation, the Council shall be entitled to receive cash payment to the amount of the actual or estimated value of the buildings in the open market at the date of surrender, and, subject to any observations which Mr. MacDonald may wish to make, the Council propose to instruct the General Officer Commanding to negotiate with the Colony on these lines.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Ј
FOR
Permanent Under-Secretary of State,
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