136
Drawing No. 3.
should be extended to Lyemun on the East and the inclusion of Laichikok on the West as shewn by broken lines in green colour on Drawing No. 3, the area of the harbour so defined being about 17 square miles. Within these extended limits the present, and, as can be foreseen, the future needs of the Colony's shipping and trade can be accom- modated and developed with advantage. The Schemes, referred to later, for the development of the Port are located, therefore, within these extended limits.
General Considerations.
The determination of the locations where developments should take place and the form of their design has necessitated consideration of many factors such as :—
(a) Most convenient position for the various trades of the Port having regard
to frontage available.
(b) Suitable depth of water existing or susceptible of improvement at reasonable
cost by artificial means.
(c) Practicability of economic construction.
(d) Direction and intensity of prevailing winds.
(e) Direction and speed of tidal currents and their probable scouring or silting
effect by the construction of new works.
(f) Accessibility.
(9) Practicability of providing junk basins contiguous with transit sheds and
storage warehouses.
(h) Practicability of providing shelter whereby steamers and small craft need
not leave wharves or basins during a typhoon gale.
LOCATIONS OF PRESENT TRADE.
Drawing No. 2.
Hongkong (West Point).
Staple trades such as rice, sugar and flour are centered in the western part of Victoria and as they comprise a large percentage of the trade of the Port, it is necessary that consideration be given to the practicability of development in this section of the harbour front, where in addition, some business is carried on in general cargo and oil in
cases.
In 1922 the China Provident Loan & Mortgage Co. who carry on a large godown business in this vicinity applied for permission to erect piers in front of their lots and at the request of the Chairman of the Town Planning Committee, a joint report drawn up by the Superintendent of Crown Lands and myself was presented to and discussed by that Committee on 1st September, 1922. The principal recommendations contained in that report were:—
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"On the clear understanding that Government will exercise its rights in 1949 and take possession of all existing pier sites, the leasing of which may hinder the carrying out of such policy of harbour frontage development as may be decided upon, we consider it would be politic to allow applicants to construct piers or wharves opposite their properties. Government should acquire properties behind the harbour front road between the Western Market and Queen's Street and from Whitty Street to Sands Street for the purpose of constructing a back road to which the Low Level Tramway Co.'s lines may be diverted. We consider a passenger tramway service on a frontage road of a width of 75 feet would incommode seriously the handling and transport of cargo".
The Town Planning Committee opposed the placing of any large piers along the front of Victoria for the accommodation of steamers of the coaster or ocean-going classes. To quote Mr. Fletcher :-
"This part of the town is getting less and less adapted for cargo handling. The place is full of tenement houses and restaurants and the roads already carry