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The following is a list of Public Works which must be considered and if possible provided for within the next few years:-
Buildings.-The New Law Courts, the New Post Office and Treasury, a residence for the Governor at the Peak, improved and increased accommodation for the Police both at the East and West ends of the city, and a New Harbour Master's Office will absorb all available funds for building purposes for many years to come. It is therefore unnecessary to mention other minor wants. The above are undoubtedly the most pressing.
Roads. The completion of MacDonnell Road to its junction with Kennedy Road should be taken in hand next year. The plans for it are ready. "A road from Wanchai Gap round the south side of Mounts Nicholson and Cameron to Wongneichong Gap would be a very desirable addition to the roads in the Peak District, and would open up a beautiful part of the country, making access to Taitam and the eastern parts of the island from the higher levels easy. The comparatively level road from Plantation Road Station to Magazine Gap, to be completed in 1898, will much improve the latter locality as affording easier means of reaching Victoria by 'ricksha and tram, and may possibly lead to further building of European residences beyond Wanchai Gap to which this road will give access.
The possibility of constructing a road from Victoria Gap, level, or at an easy gradient, to the saddle between Victoria Peak and High West, and then down by the north face of the mountain to a point on the Peak Road, should be ascertained. Such a road would give access to splendid building sites.
The Victoria Jubilee Road round the Island will soon be in progress and its completion in a few years will prove an immense boon to the whole population of the Colony, European and native. If followed, as no doubt it will be in time, by a road side tramway, the over- crowding of Victoria will probably be relieved by many of the better class of Chinese and Eurasians moving out to the suburbs.
The roads in Kowloon are being pushed on, and should be liberally provided for annually, until the Yaumati Road on the West, and the Hung Hom Road on the East respectively reach the boundary; while the cross road from Yaumati by the wells is carried on to the road on the East.
Water Works.-Mr. COOPER'S able and exhaustive report of 1896 on the Water Supply goes very fully into the works that may be necessary to meet future requirements. On the completion of Wongneichong reservoir, the additional reservoirs described in paragraphs 155 to 159 of Mr. COOPER'S report should be undertaken, in view of the rapidly increasing popula- tion of the city.
Reclamation Works.-The first work of this description to be provided for in the early future is at Taikoktsui. Surveys have not yet been made, but a mere inspection of the locality makes it plain that such a work would not only be easy of execution but very beneficial, and probably extremely remunerative owing to the large extent of land to be reclaimed for a comparatively small expenditure. Stone and earth for the work are close at hand, while the levelling of the hills immediately above the Taikoktsui village would make it possible to lay out that locality in the way that Yaumati and Mongkoktsui have been treated, and satisfactorily provide for the boat-building population of the Colony, hitherto frequently shifted from place to place, and occupying foreshore as squatters wherever it has been permitted. If a large proportion of the working coolie population of Hongkong can find quarters and inducements to live at the Kowloon side, in well laid out, well drained, airy streets, built as they are being built with modern ideas of sanitation, and with the experience of the errors of the past before our eyes, instead of in the dangerously overcrowded rookeries of China-town in Victoria, the benefits to the majority of the population of the Colony will be great. The reclamation of the foreshore beyond Arsenal Street to East Point is a work bound to follow on the completion of the present works to the West, say, in three years' time. Owing to the shallowness of the water, the cost would be much less than the cost of the reclamation to the West, and the work is certain to prove remunerative, but it is a large question and how it should be undertaken and financed requires much consideration. In connection with the construction of the Victoria Jubilee Road, a very useful and profitable work can be done near Aberdeen, namely, the recla- mation of the tidal flat adjoining the existing road to Little Hongkong. This salt water marsh or tidal flat is credited, without much reason, with causing fever in the locality, and even in somewhat distant parts of the Peak District. However this may be, it will certainly be an advantage to reclaim it, to keep out the tides, and after it has been sweetened by being kept for a time as a fresh water lake, turning it into rice fields. This work can be done as part of the new road at little or no additional expense. The area that can be reclaimed is from 30 to 40 acres.