No. 2.
39
No. 1917
6
HONGKONG.
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS
PUBLIC
OF THE
WORKS
COMMITTEE
at a Meeting held on the 15th March, 1917,
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, March 29th, 1917.
PRESENT:
The Honourable the Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM, C.M.G.). Chairman.
the Colonial Treasurer, (ALEXANDER MACDONALD THOMSON).
"J
Mr. WEI YUK, C.M.G.
Mr. EDWARD SHELLIM.
19
Mr. PERCY HOBSON HOLYOAK.
Petition by residents and property owners of Kowloon for the removal of the remainder of the hill to the north of Yaumati Theatre (K.I.L. 1011) to admit of the extension of Nathan Road.—(C.S.O. 537/1916.)
1. The Chairman informed the Committee that, when Nathan Road was projected, the cutting of it through the hill immediately to the north of Yaumati Theatre was found to involve the removal of 120,000 cubic yards of earth and rock, the estimated cost of which was $80,500. Such an outlay was considered prohibitive and it was therefore decided to defer the execution of the work and to endeavour to arrange for the removal of the earth and rock in connection with the execution of reclamation work for which the mate- rial in question would be necessary. The postponement of the work did not appear to be of serious moment as the road was blocked about 800 yards further north by Kowloon Farm Lot 2, the lessee of which had declined to entertain proposals which were made to him for the conversion and re-adjustment of his lot to enable Nathan Road to be extended.
2. Arrangements for the conversion of Kowloon Farm Lot 2 were concluded in August last and, meanwhile, the quantity of earth and rock to be removed at the place under consideration has been reduced in the manner indicated to 44,000 cubic yards. The cost of removing what is now left (44,000 cubic yards) is estimated at about $10,000 and, as about 75% of it is rock and any blasting operation must be conducted with care on account of the proximity of buildings, it is estimated that its removal will extend over a period of about 2 years. To the above, must be added the cost of kerbing, channelling and macadamising the portion of new roadway, which is estimated at $4,000, making $14,000 in all.
3. The Chairman submitted a plan showing how it was possible to make immediate provision for extending Nathan Road, in a temporary manner, round the base of the hill, à suflicient area of Crown land being available for this purpose. The temporary road would have a minimum width of 30 feet. He also called attention to the necessity for removing the existing public latrine, adjoining Market Street, which would obstruct the future extension of Nathan Road on its permanent alignment. In order to provide a