A548
HONGKONG
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perty being 1,201,350 square feet. It has nine berths capable of berthing steamers 650 feet in length with a draught of 32 feet at lowest spring tides. A new wharf, 800 feet in length, and 60 feet in breadth, is in course of con- struction. Light railway lines facilitate the transfer of cargo to or from transit godowns or from steamer to steamer at the wharves. A railway siding connects the premises with the Kowloon-Canton, Railway. The Company maintains a fleet of eleven steam and motor tugs and launches and 114 lighters of from 50 to 200 tons capacity; its godowns (including separate buildings for extra hazardous, hazardous and non-hazardous goods and bonded ware- house for storage of dutiable goods) have a total capacity of about 300,000 measurement tons. An open space (343,343 sq. ft.) is also provided for storage of timber and other cargoes not requiring cover. The newer godowns are equipped with electric conveyors and electric cranes. Sixteen cargo cranes are operated on shore and five afloat, with a lifting capacity up to 25 tons. There is additional accommodation at West Point, the principal Chinese business quarter. A large staff of Swatow coolies, trained to handle cargo, is employed and housed by the Company, which also maintains an effective force of detectives and watchmen to prevent robberies and pilferage.
Holt's Wharf has a frontage of 1,600 ft. and an area of 108,000 sq. ft. The storage accommodation comprises five, four and two-storey warehouses with a capacity of 25,000 measurement tons. A large fleet of tugs and lighters is also maintained. Both these wharves are connected by special siding with the railway.
With cargo delivered from transit godown, the system is for consignees to obtain Agents' countersignature to their Bills of Lading, after which the Bills of Lading are stamped off for delivery at the Godown Office, and con- signees go to the godowns where their cargo is delivered to them, seven days' free storage (not counting date of arrival) being allowed, after which overtime is charged. Only a portion of a steamer's cargo is taken direct by consignees from transit godowns, the balance usually being transferred to storage godowns under instructions from the consignees, the greater part of the merchandise being held under lien to the various banks. Warrants are issued for such cargo and the merchants issue Delivery Orders as and when required.
THE PEAK DISTRICT
A well-made but steeply-graded mountain road leads up from the centre of the city to the summit of Victoria Peak, with numerous other paths branch- ing off from it at Victoria Gap along the adjoining hills. A tramway, on the wire rope system, runs to the Victoria Gap, the lower terminus being close to St. John's Cathedral. It was opened to traffic on the
the 30th May, 1888. Passengers can alight at the Kennedy, Bowen, May, and Plantation Roads, where stations are provided for their accommodation. The Peak Club is domiciled in ал neat building at Plunkett Gap near the point of junction with Chamberlain Road and Mount Kellett Road. It was erected in 1902 and enlarge in 1912 by the addition of a second storey. The Peak Church, an unpretending structure after the simili- tude of a jelly mould, was opened for worship in June, 1893. Extensive ac- commodation for visitors is afforded at the Peak Hotel. The Victoria (Jubilee) Hospital occupying a breezy site on Barker Road, was opened by Sir Henry Blake on November 7th, 1903, partly as the result of public subscription. A new block was added to it in 1923. Yet another hospital, named "The Matilda Hospital," is situated at the southern corner of Mount Kellett. It was built at a cost of about $350,000 and opened in 1906. The expense of erection and maintenance are borne by the estate of the late Mr. Granville Sharp, who devoted the bulk of his fortune to provide such an institution for the benefit of persons needing it who are of European or American birth. Another hospital, the War Memorial Nursing Home, was opened in 1932 on Mount Kellett Road,
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