HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
TERMS OF RENEWAL OF SEVENTY-FIVE YEAR CROWN LEASES.
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MINUTES of a discussion between Hong Kong Government officials and the Chamber of Commerce Special Committee on Crown Leases held in the offices of the Chamber of Commerce on:-
WEDNESDAY, 9th AUGUST, 1939, at 2.30 p.m
PRESENT: (Representing the Hong Kong Government) :- The Colonial Secretary (the Hon. Mr. R.A.C. North), the Attorney General (the Hon. Mr. C.G.Alabaster, 0.B.E., K.C.), the Financial Secretary (the Hon. Mr. S. Caine), the Acting Director of Public Works (the Hon. Mr. A. B. Purves), the Land Officer (Mr. T.S. Whyte- Smith) and the Valuations & Resumptions Officer (Mr. J.E. Richardson).
(Representing the Chamber of Commerce):- The Hon. Mr. S. H. Dodwell (Chairman of the Special Committee), Sir Vandeleur Grayburn, Mr. D.F. Landale, Mr. A.S. Mackichan (Members of the Special Committee), Mr. H. J. Armstrong, Mr. D.H. Blake and Mr. M.M.Watson (Members of the Legal Sub-Committee) with the Secretary of the Chamber (Mr. M.F. Key, O.B.E.).
The Hon. Mr. S. H. Dodwell presided.
The meeting was held to discuss the terms which are to be offered, on renewal, to holders of Crown leases for 75 years only, granted between 1880 and 1898 (approximately). A draft letter from the Chamber of Commerce addressed to the Government and appended to these Minutes formed the basis of discussion.
Chairman's Opening Remarks.
The Chairman said: We are glad to have this opportunity of discussing with representatives of the Government the knotty pro- blems of Crown Lease renewals.
In the draft letter which we have put up as the basis of discussion, we have tried to bring out the following points:
(1)
(2)
That there has been no clear and unvarying statement
of Government policy during the last forty years.
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It has undoubtedly become known that as far back as the end of last century an Instruction from the Secretary of State was on record the effect of which was that lessees would be offered an extension without premium, and only be expected to pay the current Crown rent at the date of renewal. If the Government wanted the site, it was understood that the lessee would receive compensation for improvements and for
disturbance.
A traditional understanding grew up in consequence that leases would be renewed "automatically" and on easy terms.
Presumably in order that the "Instruction" referred to should not be overlooked, it was printed in an official bock called "Digest of Instructions from the Secretary of State Regarding Disposal and Tenure of Land in the Colony of Hong Yong," ?? which I see Mr. Whyte-Smith has brought to the meeting.
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