§ 55. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for War why an agreement has been reached with the Government of Hong Kong to surrender Whitfield Barracks in return for an undertaking to expend £1,182,000 on a new ordnance depot at Kai Tak.
§ Mr. RamsdenWhitfield Barracks, which are old and in poor shape, are situated in the centre of Kowloon. New barracks to replace them will be built on the site of our present ordnance depot, which will be replaced by a new depot on a more suitable site at Kai Tak.
In return for the surrender of the Whitfield Barracks site, the Hong Kong Government have undertaken to provide the land at Kai Tak free and to pay up to £2.876 million towards the cost of the new buildings for the Army.
This is a satisfactory arrangement which is of benefit both to the Army and to civil interests in Hong Kong.