192
PRAYA RECLAMATION WORKS.
93. Expenditure.-The expenditure for the year was $72,708, as compared with $110,708 in 1902, and $91,772 in 1901.
94. Arca rendered available for Building.-The whole of the remaining build- ing area provided by the reclamation, amounting to 6 acres, became available for allotment; the total area rendered available by the entire scheme being 33 acres.
95. Work executed.-The work executed during the year comprised a portion of the earth filling and the formation of the whole of the roadways, including kerbs, channels, gullies and connections, &c. on Section No. 6 West and similar work on Section No. 1 West, a small portion of road-making on the latter being left in abeyance pending the laying of the Electric Tramway tracks. With the exception of this and the laying of sewers in Section No. 1 West, 4, 5, 6 and 7 West, the whole of the Reclamation Scheme has been completed. The laying of the sewers is delayed as long as possible on account of settlement occurring in the newly reclaimed ground.
96. Re-construction of Government Piers.—A contract was entered into with Mr. TSANG KENG for building the superstructure of a Boat-slip and Landing opposite the New Harbour Office, and the work was about half done by the close of the year.
97. Staff and Plant.-The services of nearly all the outdoor staff were dis- pensed with and the pontoon crane was laid up in Causeway Bay. The tug "Praya" was employed frequently and the two block barges almost constantly in connection with the trial works for the proposed dam at Tytam Tuk. Ordinary repairs to the plant were effected as required.
98. General Description of Scheme. As the works have now practically reached completion, it may be useful to give a brief account of their origin and progress.
The Praya Reclamation Works were initiated by Sir C. P. CHATER, and have been carried out under the Praya Reclamation Ordinance, No. 16 of 1889. Prior to the passing of this Ordinance, reclamations of limited extent at West Point in front of the Sailors' Home and the Wharf and Godown Company's property (Marine Lots 95 and 105) were sanctioned, but, as these fell within the limits of the main scheme, they were subsequently carried out in conjunction with it. A considerable quantity of rubble stone for the foundations of the sea-wall for these reclamations had been deposited before the main scheme was undertaken and, as the new reclamation projected somewhat further into the harbour, it was necessary to widen the mound so formed in order to bring the wall into alignment.
The reclamation extends from the boundary of the Naval Yard Extension westwards to a point opposite Marine Lot 181, a distance of nearly 2 miles, the total area reclaimed from the sea being approximately 65 acres, made up as follows:-
Praya Reclamation under Ordinance No. 16 of 1889,...59 acres. West Point Reclamations,
6
Total,..................65
$1
Of this area 33.73 acres constitute building land, the remainder being occupied by roads and open spaces.
An area of 2.21 acres of land outside the boundaries of the actual reclamation and formerly occupied by streets was rendered available for inclusion with building lots.
Details of the areas, in square feet and in acres, are given in tabular form in Appendix N.
The total length of new Praya Wall is 10,263 feet, made up as follows:- Praya Reclamation under Ordinance No. 16 of 1889,... 9,198 ft. West Point Reclamations,
1,065 "
Total,
..... 10,263
"