CO129-587-10 Governor's power to make and execute grants of Crown lands 20-5-1940 - 17-10-1940 — Page 11

No. 251.

04 Hongton on 54349/24 (3)

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG.

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Кшав

My Lord,

RECEIVED

29 MAY 1940

| C. C.

C. O. MESK

20th May, 1940.

I have the honour to enquire whether favourable

consideration might be given to a proposal to delegate the

Governor's power of making and executing grants and

dispositions of lands under Article XIII of Hong Kong

Letters Patent.

2.

Such delegation would not, I suggest, involve

any relaxation in the Governor's control over sales of

Crown Land, since there would not appear to be any

discretionary power to refuse a Crown lease to any

successful purchaser at a public auction who has complied

with the conditions of sale. The Conditions of sale of

Crown Lands are invariably submitted to the Governor, or

to the Colonial Secretary acting under his instructions,

for prior approval.

3.

I am advised that the delegation now suggested

would not be possible under Article XIII of the Hong

Kong Letters Patent unless His Majesty were pleased to

signify His pleasure in that sense through the instrument

of a Royal Instruction. In this connection I forward

the accompanying copy of a written opinion by the

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LORD LLOYD OF DOLO BRAN,

Aus

&C.,

&c.

&C.,