But the advantages which Government proposes this scheme are,—1. The improvement of the appearance of the City. 2. The final settlement of a Boundary seawards. 3. The acquisition of a new and useful Road for the public. 4. The prevention of further filling up of the Harbor, which, until the whole line of Sea-wall comes into Government care, cannot be effected. 5. The means of arranging a more efficient Harbor system. And (6) lastly, very great service and benefit as a Police measure; for it is evident that with a Public Road between the line of houses, markets, &c., and the sea, there will be some impediment to a facile mode of escape now practised by many offenders, and there will be increased means of supervision over the Chinese population.
61
Should opposition arise, I do not think Government should abandon an undertaking so beneficial and so necessary, unless the opposition be based on grounds which I neither foresee nor expect.
66
There can be no doubt that Government has the power to enforce the plan under the alternative of resumption according to terms of the Lease, which plainly lays down the dimensions in every direction of each particular lot.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 7th November, 1855.
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
Copy
Sir,
Victoria, Hong Kong 18th December 1855.
His Excellency
Sir John Bowring
We, the undersigned, on behalf of the Majority of Lease holders of Marine Lots in the Town of Victoria, beg respectfully to address your Excellency with reference to the Government notification No. 53 in the Gazette of 10th November last, by which we perceive that the Government have in contemplation a project for the formation of a Praya by filling ground along the Sea Front of the