Secretariat file 86/3091/47.
Ju
54439/2
5
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
FEND
No. 149.
6- JUL 1948
HONG KONG.
30th June, 1948.
C. REGY.
•
Sir,
of/
I have the honour to request your approval to the lease by private treaty, at reduced premium, of a lot measuring 5,737 square feet on Sui On Street at Tai Po Market in the New Territories to the London Missionary Society. The Society have applied for this grant for educational and religious purposes, and they intend to construct a large building measuring 70 feet by 35 feet containing an assembly hall and classrooms, and a smaller building for housing their school and church staff, leaving room for a playground. The proposed area of the playground is 3,312 square feet the remaining 2,425 square feet being occupied by the building.
2.
The Society have at present a small school at Tai Po Market which they wish to expand. It is desirable that they should be encouraged because, apart from the advantage of having as many schools as possible under responsible management, there are few proper school buildings in this small market town, and those which exist are congested.
3.
Subject to your approval of a grant by private treaty, I propose to charge the Society the normal Crown rent for the site which will be approximately $60 per annum. As regards
the premium, I should explain that in recommending a grant of land by private treaty for the purpose of building a school which will qualify for grant aid, it is the general practice to recommend that the land shall be granted free for premium, since any premium
But paid would fall to be refunded in full under the Grant Code. for churches it is usual to recommend not a free grant, but only a grant at the normal upset premium. In this case, therefore,
where half of the buildings will be a church and the other half a grant-aided school, it is proposed to charge half the normal
The normal premium for the land which will come under buildings. upset premium in this locality is $2.00 per sq.ft. The proposed charge to the Society for 2,425 sq.ft. will therefore be $2,425. As the playground will be for the use of the school only, it is intended that no premium should be charged for the remaining 3,312 sq.ft. The normal upset premium for this latter area
The normal would be charged for the remaining 3,312 sq.ft. upset premium for this latter area would be $6,624. to Government in premium will therefore be at least $6,624 plus $2,425 or $9,049 in all, as against which we shall have a new and well run school, which would cost much more if constructed by Government.
The loss
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
Manthan
GOVERNOR.
Vinais
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
A. CREECH JONES, M.P.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.