CO129-628-1 The Norwegian Seamans Mission 1-6-1950 - 30-6-1950 — Page 4

Sect. File No.86/3091/49.

SAVINGRAM

To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

From the Governor, Hong Kong.

ih

Date

12

June, 1950.

No.

635

4

I have the honour to request your approval to a grant of about 17,570 square feet of land at Cox's Road, Kowloon, to the Norwegian Seamen's Mission for the purpose of constructing a permanent headquarters on the following conditions:-

2.

1) Private Treaty grant;

(2) Term: 75 years, non-renewable;

3) Premium: Nil;

Crown Rent: the normal rate for the locality of $4,000

per acre per annum, or about $1,614.00;

Building Covenant of $300,000 to be completed in 18 months; (6) User to be restricted to the purposes of a Seamen's Mission;

Prohibition against assignment sub-letting mortage or other alienation without the previous consent of Government; (8) Reversion to the Crown without compensation for a breach

of any of the conditions of the grant.

The Mission is at present housed in rented premises of which the landlord wishes to recover possession. During the last year 129 Danish, 370 Norwegian and 79 Swedish ships entered the port. The crews of Swedish ships are invariably European and about half of the remainder carry completely European crews. Approximately 6,350 men from these ships enjoyed the amenities of the existing Mission building. Many Panamanian Flag vessels carry Norwegian Masters and officers who also use the facilities. All these visitors contribute voluntarily to the funds of the Mission.

3. I understand that the Mission is to receive a grant of about $80,000 from its headquarters in Norway as a contribution towards building expenses, that the funds in Norway are obtained from voluntary subscriptions and that there is no grant from the Norwegian or other Government. The remainder of the building fund is to be raised by local subscriptions mainly from Scandinavian firms trading in Hong Kong. There is no recurrent grant to the local Mission from Norway other than to meet the pastors' salary, the running expenses being met by sub- scriptions from visiting seamen. The Mission is, in practice, used only by Scandinavian seamen. Seamen of other nationalities would not be turned away but the language difficulty does not make the institution very attractive to them. No liquor is served on the premises and, in

addition to its welfare activities, the Mission has a strong religious and evangelical character.

4. The normal upset price of the land if it were put to public auction would be $20.00 per square foot or $351,400. The Mission, however, has no funds with which to buy the land in addition to meeting the construction costs stipulated in the proposed building covenant. The Port Welfare Committee is strongly recommended this grant and I am satisfied that your approval may properly be given. Executive Council has agreed.

5. As the Mission must vacate its present premises at an early date and as some delay has already occurred owing to the difficulty of finding a suitable site within reasonable distance of the harbour,

I would appreciate an early reply by telegram if possible.

Я

DCB:kcw.

20 JUN 1950