134
- hereafter to the other side, and I therefore very earnestly recommend that the buildings I have proposed for erection, in addition to those now under construction may be sanctioned without delay.
6.
While however I do not recommend the transfer of the Dockyard to the Kowloon Peninsula, I think it most desirable that the Coal Store should ultimately be moved there from West Point, and in this view I have had the accompanying Plans and estimates drawn up by Lieutenant Bird of the Royal Engineers under the Superintendence of Major the Commanding Officer of Engineers at Hong Kong, to whose assistance on this occasion, as well as upon that previous when he reported on the state of the Dockyard, I have been much indebted.
The reasons for which I recommend this transfer are as follows:-
The Anchorage and Coaling Pier at West Point is much exposed, the work is frequently stopped during bad weather and in the Typhoon Season both Coal Sheds and Coaling piers are generally destroyed. The site proposed at Kowloon promises good Anchorage, to which Vessels and boats always repair in the Typhoon Season for shelter, and the water would be deep enough for a Gun Vessel to coal from the wharf, and hereafter by means of a short floating pier a steamer might do the same - Colliers could discharge without using...