CO129-587-8 Crown leases 18-4-1940 - 17-3-1941 — Page 7

7

a tentative draft.

Within Dumn

15th January, 1941.

17. A. W. Looker

I have subsequently versed the

I have

You sed

also ended

by I hooker.

para

The draft

1.2.41

in some details.

pron. In the "arbitration board" fomit A bear whose findings did not

cover the complete rental

tenants and

dispute drafted, deforceting

Vald

would not be satisfactory to the

brovide a frequent

also brode

casessments.

final assen

with the Govenant's first

two suggestion

phot

for

Mr.Gent.

14/=/01

I have not had these papers since

Mr. Looker called on January 13, and it is a little difficult now to recall all that was said at the interview.

Crow

It was clear, however, (1) that, rightly or wrongly, kir. Looker, in common with members of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, and others in Hong Kong, honestly believed that the 75 years leases would be renewed, on expiry, upon payment of an enhanced

rent without any premium, and acted accordingly, and (2) that Mr. Looker, although he had no authority for suggesting it, thought that a compromise on the following terms might be acceptable: such increased rent as would be fair and equitable to be settled, if necessary, by independent arbitration plus a certain, but not too heavy, percentage in lieu of a premium.

G

-

The proposal in paragraph 5 of the attached draft despatch to Hong Kong (which in effect adopts the Governor's personal view as expressed in paragraph 4 of his note enclosed in No.12) seems to me.to go beyond what Mr. Looker had in mind. Be that as it may, the proposal would at any rate appear to give effect to the principle to which the Sub-Committee of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce in their report of 12/1/40 (enclosed in No.6) attach

such