Crosby Store, after being for many years in a dilapidated condition, was taken down, its contents having been previously transferred to the new Store Buildings erected on Praya East, near No. 2 Police Station. No. 7 Police Station was also taken down in order to make room for the erection of a new and much larger Station on the same site. It was found necessary to take the roof off the Volunteer Head- quarters in consequence of the decayed condition of the timberwork and, pending a decision as to the erection of a new building elsewhere, a mat-shed covering was substituted. The remaining public buildings are all in a fair state of repair. Work is in progress for the erection of new buildings in place of several of the oldest and most inadequate, including the Law Courts and Land Registry Office, the
Harbour Office and the Western Market.
A decided improvement was effected, at the instance of His Excellency the Governor, in the entrance to the Ball-room at Government House, the two small doorways which formerly existed being converted into one large doorway by the removal of the intervening pier.
A number of buildings in the New Territory underwent repairs. Before the close of the year, there were five new Police Stations occupied, namely, Tai Pò, Au Tau, Ping Shan, Starling Inlet and Sai Kung, whilst two others were in course of erection at Sheung Shui and Tai O. These are the only new permanent buildings undertaken so far, with the exception of some huts for lepers near Au Tau; the Police or other officers in various other parts of the Territory being housed either in old buildings taken over from the Chinese Government or hired for the purpose, or in temporary structures.
15. Maintenance of Telegraphs.-A new annunciator was fixed at Tai Pò Police Station and an improvement in the communication with the New Territory was thereby effected. A separate wire was run from Tai Pò to Ping Shan in order to obviate the connection required at Au Tau when the last mentioned places were served by a single wire.
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16. Maintenance of Public Cemetery.-New terraces were formed as found neces- sary to make room for interments. A new area has been set apart for the Old Residents"" section, that hitherto in use having become filled. Permits in connec- tion with the erection of monuments to the number of 83 were issued, the fees for which, amounted to $204.
17. Maintenance of Praya Wall and Piers.-The timber piers at Stonecutters' Island and Tsim Sha Tsui Point and the stone pier at Sha Tin received special attention in the way of repairs. Nothing special was required in connection with the Praya Wall.
18. Maintenance of Lighthouses.-The lighthouses now include the one on Waglan Island, which was taken over from the Chinese Government, as it is situated within the boundaries of the New Territory. All the lighthouses were maintained in a satisfactory state of repair. Waglan is now connected with Hongkong by means of a cable, which was laid at the close of 1900. The cable lands near Cape D'Aguilar, whence a land-line extends to the Telegraph Companies' Office.
19. Dredging Foreshores.-Comparatively little work was done under this head- ing during the year, in consequence of the dredger, whilst on hire in connection with the raising of the hopper dredger "Canton River", having been sunk in the harbour on the 2nd March. The vessel and crane were successfully raised and, after undergoing thorough repairs at the hands of the Dock Company, resumed work on the 16th September. The dredger was subsequently hired to the Military Authorities for a period of four weeks in connection with the construction of a pier at Chong Lui near Devil's Peak. A commencement was made, towards the end of the year, with the removal of detritus from the Bowrington Canal.
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