CO129-589-9 Government House- damage caused by construction of underground Air Raid shelter tunnels. For extracted photographs.... 1-4-1941 - 1-11-1941 — Page 30

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On the other hand, it is far from improbable that

still more serious movement may occur at any moment or that

a typhoon may greatly increase the damage. I have, therefore,

asked and obtained permission from the Commander-in-Chief,

China Station, to occupy Admiralty House temporarily, should

it become necessary for me to quit here. I am greatly

obliged by Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton's kind compliance

with my request.

4.

The Naval Commander-in-Chief's assent, however, was

limited by the following condition "It should be understood

that this is an emergency measure and does not affect it (Admiralty House) being available for my use should I have need

of it in the future".

I recognize that this 'caveat' was necessary, having

regard to the terms on which the property was offered to and

accepted by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty (vide

At the Mr. Amery's despatch No. 87 dated April 6th, 1927).

same time it calls for immediate consideration of the situation

that would come about were it to become necessary for the

Governor to vacate the present Government House for it would

obviously be impracticable as well as undesirable that he

should be liable to find himself without an official residence

at short notice.

In so describing that contingency I have not

forgotten the existence of Mountain Lodge, but I have no

hesitation in saying that the Lodge is quite unsuitable as the

principal residence of the Governor.

It is very inaccessible,

lying as it does at the end of some three-quarters of a mile of a steep single-traffic lane, and it has no parking space

for cars. It is much too small for the Governor's

obligations in the way of entertainment and for most of the

year it is wrapped in wet cloud.

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