$196
feet thus added to the Colony, 2,486,780 square feet, or 57.08 acres, will be building land, and 1,740,600 square feet, or 39.95 acres, will be added to the area already covered by public roads and streets. My proposals, if successfully carri- ed out, will put into the Treasury a lump sum of at least $037,050, will improve the revenus from Crown Lands by the sum of $33,910 per annum and from taxes by the sum of $150,571 per annum, and all this will be accomplished without any expense whatever to the Govern-
ment.
All this I propose should be done within five years from the date when the work is sanctioned by the Secretary of State, provided due diligence, is used. The work, although more exteu- sive, is of a much easier and less costly charac-
ter than that connected with the reclamation now in progress. If my calculations are correct, this project, if carried out, will do for the Eastern portion of the Colony all and more than all that the Sunitary Board hoped to be able to accomplish, if their proposals for a Sanitary Trust had met with the approval of the Govern-
ment.
I propose that the reclamation of the fore. shore of the Wanchai district from Arsenal Street to the East Point Refinery should be undertaken and carried out at the expense of
the Marine Lot holders on the same lines as
those on which the present reclamation is being carried out, and under a similar, but slightly amended Ordinance. This reclamation will involve the construction of 4 888-wall, 5,18) feet in length, starting from the Eastern extremity of the proposed extension of the Naval Yard and Arsenal, and continuous with the outer face of such extension, following on an easy curve the line of the Eastern Praya at a distance from it of about 445 feet and termin- ating at the Western extremity of the East Point Sugar Refinery premises, and in line with its northern face. It is calculated that the seawall will give an average depth of 16! feet at low water spring tides along its entire face. The land to be reclaimed within the new sea-wall will be laid out as follows:-
The present Praya will be widened to 65 feet a strip of building land 120 foot in width, specially designed to take two rows of Chinese houses, four stories in height, not exceeding 60 feet in extreme depth and having 15 feet back- yards, will be laid out next to the old Praya along the entire length of the reclamation. Outside of that will come a thoroughfare 75 feet wide, beyond that another strip of building land 150 feet wide to allow of the construction of godowns, and then the New Prays, 75 feet wide. Ten streets, 50 feet in width, will tra- verse the reclamation from the Old to the New Praya. Plan herewith.
For the purpose of filling in the land to be reclaimed from the sea, the hills on which the Royal Naval Hospital and Morrison Hill houses stand-Inland Lots 84 and 86-will have to be acquired from their owners (acquisitions which can, I believe, be easily obtained on favourable terms hereinafter detailed), and cut down to the level of Queen's Road by the Eastern Market. This cutting down will not only supply all the stone and earth required for the sea-wall and reclamation, but will give the Colony an ad- ditional area of level ground of 1,562,100 square feet, or 35.85 sores, and will open out the whole of the Wanchai district, now shut in on the east, to the easterly and south-easterly winds; a further benefit will be conferred on the Colony by the levelling of the roads leading from the City to the Happy Valley, The plan sent herewith shows clearly the area proposed to be levelled both north and south of the Queen's Road and also the method in which the new ground is proposed to be laid out. The project includes the widening of the Queen's Road to a breadth of 75 feet from the Eastern Market to the Race Course and Causeway Bay (an immense benefit in itself) and the piercing of the district by 6 other streets, each 50 feet wide, 3 running paralled to the Queen's Road and 3 at right angles to it, dividing the land into blooks of such size and shape that only the approved style of Chinese houses can be built on them.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
feet, or 18.85 acres. Inland. Lot 86, the pro- party of the Admiralty, covers 303,014 square feet, or 6.95 sores, and the balance 468,472 square feet, or 10.75 acres is still undisposed of, and is the property of the Government, but is, in its present state, unsaleable.
I believe that I will have no difficulty in arranging, if authorized to do so, with Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. for the surrender by them of the whole of their land, on condition that they receive back on the same terms, and at the same rent as at present, about 521,800 square feet of building land, or 11.99 acres, ont of the improved area.
As to the Royal Naval Hospital ground, the acquisition of this involves rather more difficulty ant entails a considerable expenditure by the Colonial Government in the first instance-an the end, without interfering with the estimated expenditure, however, to be fully recouped in profit to the Government already referred to.
The Naval Authorities want a new and improved hospital with more accommodation. They would prefer a site more directly acces- sible from the water, and further removed from Hill at Kowloon, now the property of the War the Chinese quarter of the City. Flagstaff Department, would afford ample space for a hospital double the size of the present building. freshest breezes at all seasons, and easy acces- with extensive grounds, the purest air, the sibility. I estimate that a suitable hospital could be constructed on Flagstaff Hill with every possible convenience for $20,000. This money the Colonial Treasury would have to provide in the first instance, but it could easily be procured locally at 5 per cent if the Govern- ment so wished. As for the ground, the Military have no use for it, and they would towards the centre of Kowloon. This would gladly exchange it for an equal area more
which there would be no difficulty in acquiring entail the resumption of certain lands there
as the power of the Crown to resume is clear, and the cost would. I think, not exceed $200,000 if resumption was effected at once.
The total cost of the improvements proposed to be effected is estimated (not including the cost of the new Naval Hospital) at $1,100,0, which is made up as follows:- For the Pierre Pordu
**
434
Sea-wall, including Return and Wing Walls Filling in, including cutting down, levelling and laying out of Morrison Hill and Navali ospital Hill Sawers, &c....
Curbing and channelling of Streets, &c. Contingencies 5 per cent.
Say, $1,100,000.
[ March 9, 1901.
Front Lot opposite No. 2 Back Lot opposite No. 2
Police Station 25,500 sq. ft. @ $3.00–$ 78,500
•
33
@ 2.30= 114,750
€2.00 945,800
$1,137,0:0
Royal Naval Hill Lot,
Police Station 45,900
de., &c.
.472,C00
Total Value,
From which must be deducted cost New Site for Military
of New Royal Naval Hospital $ 200,000 200,000 Compensation to Leaseholders for
Rosumption...
*...
***
100,000
500,ՈՐՈ .
$637,050
Balance in favour of Government
The annual Crown rents for the now build- ing areas are estimated as follows:-
.34.25 Acres @ $300 per Acre=$27,400 Praya East Royal Naval Hill 10.85
(co 600
*Y
6,510
$33,010
built is estimated at $1,158,240, and is made up The annual rateable value of the houses when
2,413 Houses at $40 por House-a Gross as follows:-
Annual Rental of $1,159.240 @ 13 per cent. $151,571 The Government would, therefore, not only have ground to dispose of, of the value of $184,481, which, capitalized at 5 per cent. would $637,900, but would have an annual revenue of
amount to $3 689,620.
I respectfully submit this scheme for the Secretary of State. The proposals have been approval of the Government and of the carefully thought out, and the calculations are fairly accurate. Our experience with the Praya Reclamation Scheme now in process of execu tion, enables me to judge with certainty as to the character of the work to be done, the cost to be incurred and the time to be taken, and also as to the benefits to the Colony from the works proposed.
area
ventilation and improvement in a way in which The Wanchai district will be laid open to
removal of the two hills to the Eastward t could not possibly he dealt with before. The
will add immensely to the
of the | district, and to the
(asy accessibility of the districts to the oast of it. The reclamation will add further to its area. The proposed new roads and Praya will facilitate the erection of healthful buildings and the im-t é proved sanitation of the neighbourhood. The erection of all new houses will be brought under the strictest sanitary rules Taeir number and character will compel landlords to improve and 444,200 | rebuild in the area now under occupation. This 140,000 immense addition will be made to the area of 82,500 the district, and to the income to ba derived 49,900 from it by the Colony at a minimum of expense, and with a minimum of disturbance of existing $1,047,880
interests.
$ 83,650 247,000
All these items are worked out at the present high rates of labour and material.
But-and I beg most respectfully to call attention to it-if the benefits indicated are to be derived from this project, it must be proceed. The whole of this will be borne by the existed with at once, and vigorously. It must te ing Marine Lot holders in the Wanchai district, finished within five years, and with proper mea- who will receive an augmentation to their sures it can be done easily in that time. It is a holdings of 1,492, 8 · square feet divided rateably among them in proportion to their frontages, the Government, in respect of No, 2 Police Station, being numbered amongst the Marine Lot holders and receiving 71,40 square feet of the above. The cost works out at about 70 cents per square foot of available building land ro claimed.
'much simpler undertaking than the Western Reclamation, but if it is to draw the population from the central part of the City, and ease the pressure of population there, it must be accom- panied by some intelligent scheme of tramway communication between the heart and the extre- mities of the City, which will be cheap and attractive.
Of all things speed is the most important, or otherwise, the steady increase in the population of the Colony will overtake the provision to be made for their accommodation.
In addition to the building land added to the Colony by the reclamation, which is calculated to afford accommodation for 1,331 four-storied houses, there will, by the cutting down of Morrison and Naval Hospital Hills and The Government entrusted me, in connection the hills adjoining on the south, as shown with the existing Reclamation, with the ne- in the plan, be added to the available build-gotiation and arrangement with the landowners ing in the Colony, levelled and ready for affected and with all of the details of the building 994,700 squaro fest, or 22.83 acres, scheme. I place myself again entirely at the affording accommodation for 1,082 three disposal of the Government to carry out all ne- storied houses. Of this, 521,000 square feet. gotiations and arrangements with the Marine or 11.98 acres, will go to Messrs. Jardine, Lot holders and others in Wanchai whose as Matheson & Co., in compensation for the land sent may be required for the present scheme. surrendered by them; 472,900 square feet, or 10.85 acres, will be handed over to the Govern- ment free of all cost.
The Colony will, in addition to the building land thus added to its resources have acquired, if the scheme is carried out, new streets, &c., covering an area of 1,740,60 square feet, or 39.95 acres, of which two-thirds, or 26.93 acres, will be included in the reclamation.
The land to be dealt with by this portion of my scheme covers, as already stated, 1,562,100 square feet, or 85.85 acres. Of this, Inland Lot The value of the land thus placed at the dis- 84, Morrison Hill, the property of Messrs. Jar-posal of the Government is estimated at dine, Matheson & Co., includes 790,614 square $1,137,050, namely:-
|
I suggest further for the Government, that all resumptions of land, and all compensations to be paid landholders in connection with the present scheme should be borne and paid by the Marine Let holders as part of the expenses
of thescheme, all land resumed being sold for the benefit of the fund. Any little friction that has arisen in connection with the existing Re- clamation will thereby be obviated with the present proposals.
I would only submit, in conclusion, for the consideration of the Government that, if the