CLOCK TOWER (2) Continuation.
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meantime greatly increased the Tower impedes traffic considerably, and it is often dangerous crossing the road, when chairs and vehicles come from the other side of the Tower unobserved. The conditions of the usefulness too have become entirely changed, by houses having been built in various directions and trees having been grown upon along the Queen's Road, so that at the present time the clock can be seen from every few points.
A rather curt reply intimated that the request for removal could not be acceded to.
But the petitioners were nothing if not persistent and patiently bided their time for ten years. On February 5, 1898, Mr. Stephens wrote in again, a letter which, for its historical allusions is worth giving almost in full:
"I venture to address you regarding the removal of the Clock Tower with a hope that for the benefit of the public and traffic, it may be removed without further delay or loss of time.
"On the 28th March, 1884, I forwarded to the Colonial Secretary a petition numerously signed by the merchant bankers, and residents of Hongkong praying for the removal and it was at that time considered by the then Governor that the removal would be a great improvement. Fourteen years would have elapsed next month, since March 1884, and still the Clock Tower stands impeding the growing traffic to the danger both of the pedestrian and the ricksha.
"It is only since 1884, and after the petition referred to was sent in that the ricksha has been used in Hongkong to any extent as at that time there were only one or two private ones. More space is consequently required in the streets. Besides since this time the traffic has still increased and is growing yearly and the streets are more used by Europeans on foot.
"Again with regard to carriages approaching toward the main entrance in Pedder's Street of the Hongkong Hotel from Queen's Road, or vice versa, it is practically impossible for the pedestrian to pass by a carriage when between the Clock Tower and the verandah of the Hongkong Hotel.
"The Clock itself I have been informed was given by the late Mr. Douglas Lapraik. The large stained glass window over the communion table in the Chancel of St. John's Cathedral was erected to the memory of this gentleman, and his memory will thus be still perpetuated even after the removal of the Clock Tower. Light and air are shut out materially from the houses opposite and at the side of the Tower, including the portion of the Hotel, and the tenants, occupying the surrounding shops and offices have for a long time been enquiring when will the obstruction be removed.
"When the time arrives that the Clock Tower is removed the wonder will be how was it that it was not removed before."
This time Mr. Stephens wrote to the Director of Public Works, Mr. R. D. Ormsby.
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