510
prevent the erection of premises
in both directions East and West
beyond a certain defined line, and are in every respect sites which I conceive valueless.
No 13 comprises the site of an old Battery now in ruins, and with a reserve in the rear; which, though at present not interfering with the development of the city must decidedly do so in any extension in that direction at a
no distant date.
The other Batteries in Hong Kong not being likely to interfere with the commercial prospects of the city I make no comment upon them.
I may
in conclusion observe that with the exception of Wellington and Murray Batteries, and the slight works at Nos 5 and 6, no attempt, I am happy to say, has been made even to prepare the ground for them, or to form any access thereto, and there may in consequence be less hesitation in the abandonment of those shown to be useless, especially when they are not only in their present untouched state as preventing the growth, proper arrangement and occupation of the city, but in the event of an attack would draw the enemy's fire on the very buildings they were designed to protect; or in the words of the Paper referred to, page 7.
I