HEALTH OFFICER OF THE PORT. The following correspondence was read:
Hongkong, 14th May, 1904.
Sir, I have the honour to refer you to my letter of the 29th January and your reply of the 24th February last with regard to the question of the medical inspection of steamers under the present system, and I now beg to convey to you, for the information of His Excellency the Offer Administering the Government, the Committee's extreme regret at the decision arrived at by the Government in this matter.
They desire me to point out that as far back as three years ago the Chamber represented to the Government the necessity that existed of employing two medical Port Officers whose whole time would be devoted to the inspection of vessels, unless the right of private practice amongst the shipping be conceded to them, and also that an additional launch should be placed at the disposal of the Department. His Ex- cellency Sir Henry Blake recognised the need for further assistance to the existing staff and implied that a more radical change in the Officers would have been made had it not been for the long service of the present Health Officer of the Port, and it was understood that the recommendations of this Chamber would be
approved if the system then brought into force still proved ineffectual.
With regard to your defence of the present officers my Committee do not dispute the fact that cases arise when it is impossible for Dr. Keyt to diagnose a case at first sight. but they are strongly of opinion that needless delay of
steamers should not be occasioned by the necessity of awaiting the convenience of the private practice ashore of the Health Officer or his partner. This point was fully touched upon in the 5th paragraph of my previous letter, and with reference to Dr. Keyt's powers it may be remarked that however wide they are he would naturally be diffident in exercising them, in consequence of the position he holds tis-a-vis his superior.
During the Summer and Autumn sessions the work of the Health Officer of the Port is much increased, and there is often necessity for two Officers on duty in the Harbour at the same time, especially in the forenoon. In addition to this when emigrant ships have to be passed the services of one Officer are required for a considerable time. The consequence is that other vessels are kept waiting for an unreason- able period, which could be avoided were another Officer always available for this work.
The work of the Officer is also delayed by the slowness of the present launch employed. It has been described as one of the slowest launches in the Harbour, and, as many anchorages in the Harbour are a considerable dis- tance from one another, much valuable time is lost to the Health Officer, and money to shipowners, through the consequent detention of the ships. His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government will doubtless readily recognise that this state of affairs should not exist in such an important port as Hongkong, and the Committee will be glad to learn that two faster launches will be placed at the disposal of the Health Officer of the Port's Department to remedy this matter.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
of
(July 2, 1904.
your Chamber that His Excellency the Offi- DEVELOPMENT OF KOWLOON. cer Administering the Government has carefully considered the question, but regrets that he does not see his way to carry out the recommenda tiens made with reference to medical inspection of steamers.
I have the honour to be, Sir.
Your obedient servant,
(Bd.) 8. B. C. Ross, for Colonial Secretary.
The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce.. the decision of His Excellency the Officer The Secretary was instructed to reply that Administering the Government had been noted with regret.
TARIFF QUESTION.
The following letters were read :- Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce. Hongkong, 13th May. 1904.
Sir. I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th ultimo inquir ing whether the Chamber had any remarks to offer on the Tariff Question or whether it is in a position to furnish any statistical or other in- formation relating to this Colony with reference to a similar communication from the Secretary of the Tariff Commission to the Government.
South China are situated.
With regard to statistics of trade. the Go- relative to shipping and published in the Har- vernment is well aware that apart from those bour Master's annual report, there is no reliable data to work on. The rade of the port of ping, due to its unique position at the mouth Hongkong is almost entirely that of tranship of the river on which the chief markets of The local produc- tions of the Colony are practically non-existent, and the manufactures are at present limited to refined and the building of launches and river steamers.
cotton sugar,
yarn, rope. cement
that if British shipping is to hold its position From an Imperial point of view it is obvious competitors equal facilities against foreign should not be granted the latter in British ports unless the same favourable treatment is the majority of cases this is denied to British accorded British shipping in their ports. In
shipping.
On the other hand an enormous volume of trade, a large percentage of which is not British, centres in Hongkong for distribution to China, the Philippines and other non-British territories, and it is of vital interest to Hong- kong that every endeavour should be made by this Colony's Government to attract this foreign trade to the port.
from а
His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government will therefore, the Committee trust, take steps to keep before the home authorities the impossibility of viewing the
question of fiscal reform
strictly imperial point of view when the time comes for fixing the part Hongkong is to play in the movement. and I am to state that the business community of this Colony as represented by this Chamber is watching the various stages which the movement is taking in England with great interest. My Committee will there fore be glad if His Excellency will kindly give instructions to forward copies of any communi- cations on the subject so that, should it ultimately be decided to seriously deal with the whole question, fall opportunity will be available to the Committee for advising him of their views on the various points which are calculated to affect the trade of Hongkong.
I have the honour to be, Sir.
Your obedient servant, (Sd) A. R. Lowe.
Secretary.
The Committee of the Chamber has always been of opinion that the continued prosperity of the Colony depends on the increasing facilities available to shipping, and it is probable that only so long as it remains a cheap port will its pre-eminence last. Quickness in des- patch is a great factor in producing this result, and Hongkong should not lag behind any other port in the arrangements made by the Government to avoid delays. previous letter it was pointed out that the Hon: A. M. Thomson, Colonial Secretary. funds derived from the shipping were more than ample to meet the cost of the establishment of & Health Officer of the Port Department, whose staff would be solely available for the Govern. ment work amongst the shipping.
In my
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Sd) A. B. Lows.
Secretary.
Hon. A. M. Thomson, Colonial Secretary.,
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
6th June, 1904.
Colonial Secretary's Office. 16th May, 1904.
Sir, I am directed to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter of the 15th instant and to inform you that copies of such communications as may be sent to this Govern- ment on the subject will be forwarded from time to time for the information of your Chamber.
I have the honour to be, Sir.
Your obedient servant. (Sd.) S. B. C. Ross. for Colonial Secretary.
Sir,-With reference to your letter of 14th May, I am directed to state for the information The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce.,
}
Old Hongkong residents who in the days of a more stable dollar and less competition in the markets made their “little pile " and returned to enjoy life's autumn in the homeland would. if they revisited the old Colony in the present year of grace, be astonished at its growth and the still abounding signs of further develop ment. What is true of the Island is no less true of the old British territory on the opposite article is to convey some idea of its present side of the harbour, and the intention of this
state of development.
the
The growth of Kowloon during the past few years has been really marvellous. Not only has it become increasingly popular as a European residential area, but it has also become a manu- facturing and industrial centre of growing importance. First and foremost among the industries we must place the extensive iron- foundry, shipbuilding and docking establish- ment belonging to Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co. at Hanghom. Here there are three large dry-docks and as many slips, and river steamers or other craft are continually in course of construction; while more damaged craft are repaired there than at any other yard in the Far East. The free quarters in a long row of houses in the engineers and other European employees have dock compound - an arrangement 83 venient for the men as it is advantageous to the Company. The Cosmopolitan Dock and other works belonging to the same Company, are situated at Fuk Tsun Heung, formerly known as Sam Shui Po At Hok- un are the extensive works of the Green Island Cement Co. the patent slip and and a large match-factory., On the main road. shipbuilding yard of Messrs. Bailey & Murphy:
There are also several Chinese boat-building south of Hunghom, is a large glass-works. establishments.
con-
Towards Kowloon Point are numerous coal-yards near the wharves and large godowns belonging to the Hongkong and
entirely businesslike, and there is every indica- tion of still further developments.
Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co. The scene is
The developments now in progress at Kow. loon are numerous. To begin with Messrs. Punchard, Lowther & Co. are constructing a Naval coaling pier, estimated to cost £100,000. near the Torpedo Depot. The work, which was commenced in January, has to be finished in three years-it may be finished in two. In shape the pier will be something like the trunk of a tree well bent over one side. From a broad base it will gradually assume a width of 18 feet, the length being about 200 feet. At the end will be a concrete and granite wharf, dimensions being about 250 feet long by 90 or 100 feet broad. It is on the off side of this where men- of-war are to go alongside. The depth of water there is about 25 feet, but dredgers are busily at work, it being intended to have 30 feet at low water. The pier itself will be of foreshore stone and hard rubble; some 15 25-cubic-yard boats dump their loads there daily. Concrete blooks are being made at Messrs: Panchard, Lowther's extensive works at Matsukok. The granite comes from quarries and blastings down the Matankok hills. Then at the summit of the chain of hills, about six miles from Yaumati on the road to Taipo, we see the new
reservoir also in course of construction. Water- works were established in 1895, but the supply has become wholly insufficient for the rapidly growing population. The new scheme provides for a supply of a million gallons daily.
their
two-
room
The aspect of the water front is gradually changing. The Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co. are replacing
old one-story
godowns with story godowns. Vory shortly опе go- down will be pulled down to make, for a continuation of the new 100-ft. road leading direct to Robinson Road: The ferry wharf will be moved south to this locality, so that Kowloon residents will no longer have to thread their way through a maze of cargo work. Reclamation work by the Hongkong Land Reclamation Co.. to the east of the
some months been godowns, has for
in progress. A temporary railway runs from the ballast ground at the back of the Glass Works to the area being reclaimed.
I
محمد