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1. The Clock Tower in the Queen's Road at the top of Pedder's Hill is inconveniently situated, being an obstruction to traffic.
2. It is built upon and over the line of foot pavement leading from the corner of the Hongkong Hotel to the corner of the foot pavement fronting the Post Office (which was then on the China Building site) and the line of foot passenger traffic on that side of the Queen's Road is in consequence forced into the carriage road and passenger traffic thereby becomes greatly impeded and oftentimes dangerous by passing chairs and vehicular traffic.
3. In passing from the Queen's Road to the Praya down Pedder's Hill or Street Clock Tower is a great obstruction as it takes up the greater portion of the road-way leaving but a comparatively small opening on by such other suitable structure as your Excellency may be advised to place there.
And your Memorialists will ever pray, etc., Hongkong March 1884.
The reply from the Colonial Secretary's Office, dated March 29, 1884 stated:-
Sir - I am directed by the Governor, Sir George Bowen, to acknowledge the receipt by His Excellency of your letter of the 28th. instant, forwarding a petition signed by a large number of the inhabitants of Hongkong praying for the removal of the Clock Tower to another site.
His Excellency the Governor has already requested the Surveyor General to report on this case and he will also consult the Executive Council upon it.
(sd) W.H. Marsh, Colonial Secretary.
But nothing was done, and the following came from the Colonial Secretary's Office, dated April 3, 1884.
Sir - Adverting to my letter No. 399 of the 29th ultimo,
I am directed by the Governor to inform you that His Excellency is advised by the Executive Council, that as the Clock Tower was built by public subscription and it would be deferred until the New Pedder Street Wharf shall have been taken in hand and until the urgently required Sanitary and other Public Works now in progress shall have been completed.
The Governor concurs with this view. I have the honour etc.,
(sd) W. H. Marsh, Colonial Secretary.