169
No. 1886.
39
HONGKONG.
CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING A PROPOSED LIGHTHOUSE ON GAP ROCK OR ITS VICINITY,
Presented to the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, on the 17th September, 1886.
Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.
W. H. MARSH.
The papers moved for by the Honourable Member are herewith laid on the table, together with the following explanatory remarks.
The Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce suggested. on 8th July last, that advantage should be taken of the presence in this Colony of the Inspector-General of the Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs to ascertain whether he was willing to enter into negociations with this Government "on as good if not better basis than his former proposal.".
The Officer Administering the Government has accordingly had some corres- pondence with the Inspector-General which has necessarily been of an informal character, as all official communications between this Government and that of China must be made through Her Majesty's Minister at Peking, through whom previous correspondence on this subject has passed.
The result of these communications is that the cost of building a Lighthouse on Gap Rock is now estimated-by the Inspector-General at $90,000. In 1873 a proposal was made by the Inspector-General to build a Lighthouse for $45,000, if this Colony would pay the whole cost.
The Inspector-General has now made 3 proposals :--
:-
Firstly that this Government should contribute the whole cost, in which
case the light would be exhibited in 1888.
Secondly that this Government should contribute two thirds of the cost,
in which case the light would not be ready till 1889.
Thirdly that this Government should contribute only one third, in which
case the light would not be ready till 1890.
The Chinese Government would undertake the maintenance of the Light, if this Government would keep up communication with the Lighthouse for the purpose of supplying stores, &c.
J
There are no funds available at the present moment to apply to the construc- tion of this Lighthouse, as the Colony is engaged already in several works of great magnitude. The utility of a Lighthouse at Gap Rock has been generally recog- nised for some years past, and as soon as the Finances of the Colony will admit of any money being applied to that purpose, the project will be taken into serious consideration by the Government.
In the meantime the Officer Administering the Government has undertaken to obtain a report shewing which of the Islands in the vicinity of the Gap Rock is best suited for the construction of a Lighthouse, and is easiest of access. This information, which will be transmitted through Her Majesty's Minister at Peking to the Chinese Government, will probably lead to some considerable modification of the estimate of cost which appears to be very high, particularly when compared. with the previous estimate made in 1873.
Government House, Hongkong, 14th September, 1886.