NAVAL YARD
(Contd.)
723
1889. It was an award to officers, and the contest consisted of sending in plans of an anchorage or other marine survey, accompanied by sailing directions. Thus was the former China Commander-in-Chief's memory preserved.
While on the subject of the Royal Navy, we might also explore the acquisition by them of land in Kowloon, where the mainland Naval Yard is now located. A brief history of the acquirement of the Hong Kong Naval Yard has already been published (see 27-10-33) Reference to the early acquisition of naval property in Kowloon is contained in an interesting letter by the Naval Storekeeper, Mr. W. H. Lobb, dated January 24, 1888, addressed to the Commodore-in-charge of Naval Establishments in which he states:
"The territory of British Kowloon was ceded in 1861 after the second China War, and as far as I am able to ascertain the site of the present Naval Yard at Kowloon must have been at once handed over to the Admiralty. The present coal-store was already built when Mr. Lysaught arrived in the Colony in 1864. I am unable to trace anything in my office records beyond the fact that payments of money were made in 1862 for the building of a coal-store at Kowloon.
#1
There is a reference in November 1863 to estimates having been drawn up for buildings at the Kowloon Naval Yard; and in May 1864 the Admiral made a protest against a public road in front of the naval coal stores at Kowloon. The Governor replied thereto, but we find that in June a further protest was made by the Commander-in-Chief. A letter from the Admiralty approved of the protest made, and in January 1865 the Admiralty themselves protested to the Colonial Office regarding the making of this road.
What subsequently transpired is not indicated: presumably the road was not constructed.
There is a reference in March, 1866, to the erection of a temporary naval Guard House at Kowloon, and in August there followed a plan and estimate of a permanent Guard House,
A note written in December 1901 refers to the purchase of additional land at the Kowloon Naval Yard. The land bought was Marine lot No. 35 known as the Kowloon Briquette Factory, which had been offered at $3.50 a square foot, including buildings. The total cost of this expansion worked out at £95,000, including the rebuilding of boundary walls and the garden wall. The land was intended for the storage of naval coal.
In April 1902 the Commodore suggested to His Excellency the G.O.C. that part of Austin Road (in use by the military) should be closed in connection with the acquisition by the Admiralty of the aforementioned Marine lot No. 35, north of the then Kowloon Naval Yard. At the same time the proposal was made to the Governor. In December, the Admiralty approved of the suggested closing of Austin Road and the construction of a new road.
Considerable correspondence with the local authorities proceeded, and it was not until June 1903 that the Governor wrote to the Commodore consenting to the closing of part of Austin Road without any conditions. According to the plan attached to the proposal, it was the portion of the road running down to the sea-front, adjoining the newly-acquired Admiralty property, which was closed, and the area was added to the Kowloon Naval Yard.
In commenting on the origin and subsequent expansion of the Royal Naval Hospital (see 9-10-33 et seq.) it was mentioned that developments were undertaken towards the close of the past century. These included the building of the infectious wards, and there
20