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HONG KONG.
VEHICULAR FERRY. HONG KONG KOWLOON.
No. 1928
6
A vehicular ferry appears the most practical assistance to facilitate vehicular com- munication between Hong Kong and Kowloon. A bridge over the harbour would be impracticable. A tunnel under the harbour has been considered, the cost of its construc- tion would be very much greater than the amount required for the provision of a vehicular ferry service. A harbour tunnel would also involve heavy recurrent charges for maintenance, ventilation, drainage and lighting.
The Director of Public Works submitted the following proposal on 20th October, 1926, which provides for a vehicular ferry service between berths at Jordan Road, Kow- loon; and Murray Road, Hong Kong; the distance between ferry piers being about 1 miles. The proposed vehicular ferry route, together with the routes of other ferry ser- vices, in operation are shown on plan 'A':-
FERRY PIER SITES.
Jordan Road, Kowloon. The proposed site shown on plan 'B' occupies an area of about 115,000 square feet on the south side of Jordan Road and abuts on Admiralty pro- perty. Of the above area, about 95,000 sq. ft. shown coloured pink would be obtained by a reclamation protected by an ordinary type sea wall; the remainder shown coloured yellow by two projecting arms, which would form the ferry berth. The western arm of the berth would be constructed in solid blockwork: the eastern arm in reinforced concrete. The reclamation is to provide proper accommodation for traffic and a parking area for vehicles; in addition, sufficient space would be available for garages to accom- modate about 40 cars and/or lorries.
Hong Kong Site. The proposed site shown on plan 'C' occupies an area of about 56,000 sq. ft. at the north end of Murray Road and within the re-entrant angle formed by Victoria Recreation Club property and the Praya frontage. 30,000 square feet of this site would be provided by an ordinary type reclamation shown coloured pink. The vehicular ferry berth is shown coloured yellow and projected in a north-westerly direction from the north side of this reclamation. The proposal includes provision for a public. landing place on the west side of the reclamation to replace Murray Pier which would have to be removed. To provide accommodation for traffic and a parking space for vehicles, the area made available by the proposed new work, requires to be increased by taking over portion of the property leased by the Victoria Recreation Club.
The design of the vehicular ferry berths is in the form of a 'U', spring fendering being carried round the inside in order to expedite the berthing of ferries without risk of damage.
The blue arrows shown on plans 'B' and 'C' indicate the arrangement for traffic control in the vicinity of the ferry pier.
FERRY BOATS.
The design of the ferry boat provides for carrying about 20 five seat motor cars or a proportionate number of other vehicles, together with 250 third class p. зsengers on a lower deck; and 540 first class passengers on an upper deck. The length of the boat proposed is 150 feet, with a beam of 38 feet which is splayed above the water line to give a deck width of 50 feet. To avoid the necessity of turning at the berths, the boats would