" ... His Excellency is well aware how limited are the means and opportunities of relaxation on this tropical rock, and how greatly the health both of ladies and children are tried by the length and severity of the summer of Hong Kong.

" ... We would point out that in Bombay and other towns of India, as also in Shanghai, small concessions of land have been graciously made by the Local Authorities to the ladies of those places for the purpose of public health and recreation,

" ... the present tenures of the Cricket Ground and the racecourse which are held by the gentlemen portions of the Community ...

" ... If His Excellency the Administrator admitting the truth of our representations would be pleased to grant us a piece of land, the same would be planted by us with shade trees, and laid out in tennis courts and other means of recreation suitable to ladies,

"... and the ladies of Hong Kong would undertake to maintain the ground for the purpose and object granted, entirely at their own expense and subject to such conditions as the Government might deem it necessary to impose.

[In fact, the Cricket Ground, and the Race Course were reserved for the exclusive use of the gentlemen of the colony except on certain days for short periods]

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The Officer Administering the Government added this encouragement