No. 10
88.
HONGKONG.
CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING A PROPOSED LIGHTHOUSE ON GAP ROCK.
{In continuation of No. 20 of 1887.)
Presented to the Legislative Council, by Command of His Excellency the Governor.
(1.)
No. 2/G.
His Excelleney
SIR,
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 16th January, 1888.
With reference to previous correspondence on the subject of the proposal to erect a Lighthouse as a guide to vessels approaching Hongkong and the Canton River from the South, I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that the Government of this Colony, in accordance with the unanimous opinion of the maritime experts who have been consulted on the point, has decided that the only proper position for the Lighthouse is on the Gap Rock, and that the display of a light at any other of the sites suggested would be worse than useless as likely to create danger to vessels rather than avert it.
2. Under these circumstances as the provision of the light in question is of great and growing importance to the trade of this Colony, and indeed to the trade of China, I should be much obliged if Your Excellency would, on behalf of this Colony, lay before the Imperial Government of China tha three following alter- native proposals for the erection of a Lighthouse at the Gap Rock as described in the annexed paper.
I.
The Government of Hongkong to erect the Lighthouse and to maintain the light entirely at its own cost and by means of its own employés, being permitted to occupy
the Rock in consideration of the maintenance of such light, and of the annual payment of a nominal rent as acknowledgment that the dominion remains with China.
II.
The Government of Hongkong to erect the Lighthouse by means of its own employés, and, on its completion, to give possession of it to the Imperial Govern- ment of China on an undertaking of the latter to maintain the light, or to permit the Government of Hongkong to do so.
III.
The Government of Hongkong to pay to the Imperial Government of China the sum of $80,000 in consideration of the erection of the Lighthouse and mainte- nance of the light by the latter, it being at the same time agreed that if there should at any time be failure on the part of the Imperial Government of China to maintain the light, the Government of Hongkong would be permitted to do so. Though the above sum is believed to be a very full estimate of the cost of the work, if executed by the Colony, the Government of Hongkong, with a view to facilitate negociation and to assist towards rapid execution, is willing to increase the payment to $90,000 on condition that the Lighthouse is completed and in use. within a period of two years from the 1st of May next.
Sir JOHN WALSHAM, Bart.,
H.B.M. Minister,
&...
$c.,
30.. PEKING.