CO129-577-3 Proposed transfer of military barracks to alternative site 30-1-1939 - 14-12-1939 — Page 45

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2.

to an agreed maximum total cost. The Military Authorities

would not require any further compensation in respect of

the land vacated and the transaction would thus be on an

entirely different basis from the transfers of lands dealt

with in the Military Lands Account, which would not enter

into the matter at all.

3.

From the point of view of the Colonial

Government the scheme has manifest advantages: a large

area would become available for commercial development,

town-replanning and the erection of public buildings.

Among such public buildings is the much-needed new

volunteer headquarters; the Military Authorities were

formerly disposed to consent to erection of this on part

of Murray Parade Ground, which is within the War

Department area now proposed for surrender, but they

later objected on the grounds that it would mean the

sacrifice of some of the recreational facilities at

present enjoyed by the infantry battalion quartered in the

centre of the city.

4.

On the other hand, the scheme also attracts

the Military Authorities because they are anxious to remove

the battalion from the centre of the town and to take the

opportunity of building more up-to-date barracks. It has

already been before the War Office and I am informed by

the General Officer Commanding the British Troops in China,

China Command, that the Army Council has signified its

agreement to it in principle and might consider also the gradual transfer on a similar basis later of other military establishments in the centre of the town in addition to the

establishments of the infantry battalion. My Executive Council has also expressed its unanimous agreement in principle with the scheme and advised that detailed

negotiations for the transfer should proceed.