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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS ANT
parties? I have the honour to be, Sir, your L ost obedient, humble Servant,
-- (Signed),
C. P. CHATER.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
The Honourable
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
[March 9, 1901,
1. That the leases for the reclaimed lots .ba for 99 years, with the option of renewal at a Crown Rent to be fixed by the Governor for the time being for one further term of 99 years.
"J" That the co
cost of all resumptions of land and all compensations to be paid to the landholders in connection with the scheme be borne and paid by the Marine Dot holders as part of the expenses of the schieme, the estate or interest of the lessee so resumed being sold for the benefit of the fund, unless the Govern- pay the cost of rasumption or compensation:
K" That all blocks laid out for Chinese tenement houses bo provided with a scavenging lane 10 feet wide opening to a public street at both ends, and in addition with open back yards in the rear of each house open to the said scavenging lane in accordance with follow-
Hongkong, 15th November, 190). 81B, Referring to my letter of the 12th June, submitting certain proposals for the re- clamation of a large tract of foreshoro in the Wanchai District, to your reply of the. 13th September, to my rejoinder of the. 9th the same month, and to an interview with which His Excellency the Governor favoured me on! the 22nd of October last, I have now the
HONGKONG, 12th February, 1901. honour to submit for the consideration of the SIR,-1. Referring to your letters of the 12th Government an amendment to the proposals June, 29th September, and 15th Novembar, lay contained in my lotter of the 12th June last ing before Government a scheme for the re- ment elects to resume and which will, if accepted, enable the Marine Lot clamation of the foreshore from Arsenal Street holders in whose interests the reclamation will to East Point, and offering your services as be carried out to acquiesce in the suggestion intermediary between the Government and the contained in your letter of the 13th September. Marine Lot owners, and my reply of the 18th that the Colonial Treasury should derivo some September to your first letter, I have the more direct benefit from the carrying out of honour to inform you that your proposals have the works in question. Your proposal was been fully considered in Executive Council. that the building land reclaimed from the sea 2. His Excellency the Governor will be glading scale:- should be valued and that the difference be- to avail himself of your offer to act as an in. tween such valuation and the cost of the re-termediary, and is prepared (provided your clamation when finished should be divided negotiations with the owners of the existing between the Lot holders and the Govern Marine Lots are satisfactory and lead to their ment, the Government accepting their half assent to your proposals) to recommend to the of the profit by way of premium on the Secretary of State the general acceptance of land reclaimed and leased to the Marine Lot the scheme, subject to the following conditions holders.
and to any modification the Secretary of State may deem necessary:
little profit to divide.
Houses not exceeding 40 feet in depth, for each foot of width-5 square feet.
Houses over 50 feet, but not exceeding 50 feet in depth, for each foot of width-6 square foot.
Houses over 50 feet, but not exceeding 60 feet in depth, for each foot of width-8 equare feet.
No tenement house to exceed 60 feet in depth, without the permission of the Governor in Council.
3. His Excellency accepts the modification of your original proposal, contained in your letter of the 15th November, namely, that the reclamation should extend 75 feet further into the harbour.
4. His Excellency is of opinion that a pre- wiam should be paid to Government by the Marine Lot holders for every foot of building and reclaimed land handed over to them, and per square foot. that such premium should be at least 25 cente
In my letter of the 29th September, I point- ed out that there could be no serious objection
A" That the part of your scheme which to this proposal if the Government consented involved the cutting down of Morrison Hill and to include in the cost of the Reclamation the Mount Shadwell to the level of Queen's Road compensation that would undoubtedly be claim. having boon abandoned in view of the representa ed by the Marine Lat holders for 'their loss of tions adverse to that proposal which have been rental, &c, on their existing lots during the put forward, it shall be left to the Government progress of the reclamation and for the dimi- to decide where the materials for the reclama- nished value of these lots on conversion into tion work are to be obtained, Leighton Hill and Inland Lots. I also suggested for the considera. Mount Caroline being possibly utilised, unless tion of the Government that if any questions any unforeseen difficulty should arise : as to compensation arose there might be verying the extension of streets and a new Praya B. That the proposed reclamation, inelud At the interview with which I was honoured roadway, he carried out in accordance with a
5. In conclusion, I am to add that the prin- by the Governor it appeared that it was for general plan to be drawn up, shewing the land ciple of reclamation in sections as adopted in many reasons undesirabla that any proposals for the reclaimed delineated thereon in such divi. the Western Praya reclamation scheme will be the reclamation of the eastern district should the existing Marine Lots, and the land when re-out, and that the expenses of a preliminary sur- sions as are proportionate to the frontages of followed if the proposed reclamation is carried be formulated which should give rise to any claimed shall be allotted according to such voy and estimate must be borne by the Marine complications in connection with questious of
divisions:
Lot holders.-I- have the honour to be, Sir, compensation, but that the Government, never- theless, felt bound to insist upon the payment the removal and re-erection of piers, and the
"C." That the whole of the works, including your most obedient servant, to the Treasury of something in the shape of extension, formation, sewering and channelling premium on the land reclaimed for building of the proposed new streets and new Praya wall purposes and of which leases would have to be and roadway, except on such portions of the granted. I suggested therefore the following foreshore as are situated in front of the Govern modification of my original proposals, and as it ment properties, be carried out by the Public appeared to be acceptable I have now the, Works Department at the cost of the Marine honour to embody it in writing.
Lot owners:
[
The proposed reclamation extending from "D." That the Government shall not be ! the Arsenal eastward to Jardine's premises called upon to incur any expense whatever. included the widening of the present Praya whether for drainage or sewage works or any east to a width of 75 fest, the formation of matter conffected with the schem other than sites for the construction of Chinese houses the expenditure on account of the wall and outside of that of the depth of 120 feet, the reclamation in front of Government properties: construction of a road 75 feet wide beyond that; | "E." That the cost of the proposed works, then a further strip of land for godowns of 150 except as aforesaid, be defrayed from a general feet in depth and outside of all a Praya 75 feet fund to be constituted by the Marine Lot wide.
If His Excellency will consent to a owners for the purpose, and that before the further extension of this reclamation by another commencement of the works each Marine Lot 75 feet to be added to the strip of land reserved for godowns, making the depth of the proposed reclamation 520 feet instead of 445 feet as originally proposed, I think I can persuade the Marine Lot holders to consent to pay the Treas ury a premium of 25 cents a foot on every foot of building land to be leased to them. This will give the Government a premium income of $500,000 or thereabouts which it would not receive under the scheme as originally framed and a considerable addition to the rental deriv. able from the laad, which will be increased by about one-seventh.
1
owner enter into a written contract with the Government binding himself to take up such allotment of the general reclamation as may be apportioned him by the Government, and that each Marine Lot owner deposit at the Bank 25 per cent of the total value of the contribution to the General Fund by way of guarantee of his bona-fides, such deposit of 25 per cent to be forfeited to the Crown in the event of the Marine Lot owner subsequently failing to take up his allotment for the reclamation. Tho in terest accruing on these deposits to be handed over by Government to the Marine Lot owners: “F.” That during the progress of the works all calls of money for works that may be made an increased depth of water along the by the Government upon the Marine Lot new sea wall, will add considerably to the cost owners shall be duly honoured by the latter, of the work to be borne by the Marine Lot Holders. It will, however, give a definite sum to the Government without involving the Gov- ernment in any risk of loss should any un- foreseen change in the position or prospects of the Colony render the undertaking unpro- fitable
mers of Marine Lots at Wan chai
This proposal, while increasing the area of now land to be obtained by the undertakers, and
favourable consideration of this modified proposal and as the sooner I can obtain ongen of the Lot holders and the sooner the work can be commenced the better for all
provided that the amount of such calls doзs not exceed the value of the works actually done in their respective allotments :
"G." That immediately upon the completion of the reclamation of his allotment, including the construction of new streets and of the new Praya as aforesaid, each Marine Lot owner take out a Crown Lease for said allotment, paying an Annual Crown Rant for the same at the rate of $20) per quirter acre;
“H." That no rebatement of Annual Crown Rent shall be claimed by the Marine Lot owners for their present holdings;
(Signed) J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Colonial Secretary.
The Honourable
C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
THE SITUATION IN THE FAR.
EAST."
LECTURE BY ME. J. J. FRANCIS, K.C.
On Tuesday evening, the 5th inst., Mr. J. J. Francis, K.C., delivered a lecture in the City Hall, under the auspices of the Hongkong Odd Volumes Society, on “An examination of the situation in the Far East." Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C., Secretary of the Society, took the chair. There was a good attendance.
Mr. POLLOCK said Mr. Francis had kindly consented to deliver a lecture on “An examina- tion of the situation in the Far East." By his residence in this colony for over 4 years past the lecturer was well qualified to deal with the subject. He felt sure he would be able to throw a very interesting light upon the rather anxious problems with which they found themselves con- fronted out here, and he was sure his remarks would be followed with very great interest and attention by all present. (Applause.)
Mr. FRANCIS said the present position in China was an extremely difficult one satisfac- torily to describo, and in thinking how he could best put that position before them he had come to the conclusion that almost the only satisfac. tory way in which it could be done was to glance hastily over the past history of European inter. course with Chins, and to show by what steps the European powers and the United States of America, China, and Japan had arrived at the present situation. To all intents and purposes it might be said that hina was practically un- known, except throngh books written mainly by missionaries, to Europe and the remainder of the world before the commencement of her late most gracious Majesty's reign. Up to 1833, so far as Great Britain was concerned, the entire cou duct of our inter cour
course with China was in the hands of the East India Company and the East India Company's agents. The East India Com- pany, wholly and solely devoted to the intereste
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