THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3RD. 1918,
THE
OVER-CROWDING
STONEGUTICH ISLAND
PROBLEM
IN
HONGKONG.
THE BRIDGE SCHEME REVIVED.
CHEUNG
SHA WAM
CITY
OF
VICTORIA
YARDS
PROTABL
ROWLGUN
During the past few months a great evident that, with the completion of the
The attached sketch plan is only intend➡ Under such circumstances this seems to but not prohibitive, and the nature of the city of Victoria, which will probably deal of interest has been excited, and a Canton-Hankow railway, and the pacifica be a suitable time to recall to the memory the suil on the island and the mainland always remain the hub of commercial ed to provoke interest in the matter and good deal of matter written, concerning tion of the Southern provinces of China, of residents the scheme for a bridge across is such as to encourage the belief that a activity in the colony. It is, perhaps, un to illustrate the above remarks, tad in the question of over-crowding in the city Kowloon is destined to become a populous the harbour which was first suggested by hard foundation would be found, at a necessary to dwell upon further obvious not to be taken as a serious contribution of Victoria, and the possible means of and prosperous city. That these two in- Captain Murray Rumsey, R.N., some years moderate depth. The cost would undoubt-advantages of the scheme to the com- to the study of the question from a techai- making provision for the surplus popula portant towns should remain for ever ago. At that time the idea was received udly be heavy, and it is not the intention munity, and to classes other than the cal point of view, or as tion if large schemes for the resumption separated by a stretch of water not more rather as is the suture of a good joke, in this articls even to suggest what it purely industrial ones, by bringing the opinion as to the form that a bridge cross- of insanitary properties are initiated in than a mile wide at its narrowest part but the time has come when it may well might be, but with a great commercial banks, shipping offices, Government Deing the harbour should actually take. the near future. A good many of the pro-is, in these strenuous times, obviously out be taken into consideration as a serious future before it involving vast imperial partments, olc., within easy reach of all. It is evident that in these respects the
interests, almost any figure might be met
Some development in the direction of requirement of the shipping and dock- positions put forward with regard to the of the question. It is quite unthinkable business proposition. housing problem appear to be based upon that, as the two sides develop, our success
The width of the crossing from Pidder and examined with equanimity.
providing houses for the working classering companies would have to be very care
The
A considerer
insufficient acquaintance with the condi- sors here will go on being content to catch Street to Kowloon Point is approximate bridge should provide a roadway for has already begu undertaken at Yaumati, fally studied and their interests very tions which render building operations so ten-minuto ferries which aro liable to baly 5,100 feet; so that a road surface rising electric trams and formator and riesha and in its neighbourhood; but so long strictly conserved.
1 in 20 from each shore would give a clear traffic, as well as a way-perhaps, a
as this district is separated from Hong expensive in this colony; but most of the suspended in bad weather-and to pay head way of over 100 feet in the copre covered way--for foot passengers,
One more idea suggests itself in this com kong by the harbour, and access thereto suggestions with regard to the making offron xixpence to one and threepeace, and would allow for the passage of ocean.
nection. It is probable that the Euro- If such a bridge wero constructed the
can only be obtained by slow, inter pean and Chinese community burn will Fonds, and the opening up of new areas, according to the rate of exchange, for going steamers through the central spans problem
of preparing well-arranged
mittent, and expensive ferry services. wish to commemorate in some form the should commond themselves to the consid-crossing and rearousing this narrow strip
building siton, with wide roads and ample the movement can nover bo wholly suc if that were considered necessary
Bucoessful termination of the great war eration of the community-
of water-a charge probably unparalleled There can be little doubt that, im- in the annals of modern urban develon though there would seem to be no great open spaces, would be at once and for acessful. It would be otherwise if electric and to put up some kind of lasting and,
objection to ships coming in at either time provided for by the opening up of trams from Cheung Sha Wan on the west portant as has been the part played by mont. It is equally out of mental perspec- end of the harbour, and proceeding out large areas of more or less level ground and Kowloon Bay on the east converged to those mcrubers of the community of as far as possible, imperishable memorial -Hongkong in the past as a sentre of trade tive to think of Kowloon as the torminus to sea again by the mamu passage. The suitable, according to their position, for upon Kowloon Point, and by means of Hongkong who have fallen in the cause. and enterprise in the East, it has a fature of a great trans-continental railway sys- extreme depth of the harbour is about Chinese or European occupation, below a bridge delivered their passengers nt Would not something in the nature of a pregnant with fer venter possibilities astem with nothing but a forry-bont to 61 foot diminishing about 25 feet at a and on the slopes of the Kowloon Hills. Pedder Street, where they would connect triumphal arch at the approach to the bridge on the Hongkong aide form a great port and distributing centre in convey the weary pawonger from London few yards from the Praya walle, so that All these sites would be within reason with the existing tramway service on this suitable memorial? the years to come. It seems to be cqually] to the shelter of the Hongkong hotels. the work under water would be strenuous ably enny access of the business centre of side of the harbour.
·E. A. R
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