429
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It will therefore be necessary to know what the sewerage scheme for this pro- posed reclamation is to be.
West Point. A great improvement could, I think, be made at this point by extending the new Praya so as to gradually coincide with the Praya opposite Messrs. Musso & Co.'s Godowns below the nullah.
Colonial Secretary's Letter, Condition III--With such apparent financial benefits to the Government both in the present aud in the future, I do not think this condition should be strictly enforced, particularly having regard to the sanitary measures I have mentioned before.
Width of Praya.--I note that the road to be formed on the site of the present Praya is to be 75 feet wide, and the new Praya is also to be 75 feet wide, I would beg to suggest that for all practical purposes a road on the side of present Praya of 70 feet wide would be quite sufficient, and that the new Praya be 60 feet wide, thus making each new Lot 170 feet deep in the place of 150 feet.
In conclusion I would beg to suggest that the whole line of the Praya having been divided into sections on the Government Plan, the marine lot-owners at the Meeting to be held on Saturday, the 17th instant, do appoint a thoroughly repre- sentative Committee, the members of which shall be taken from those having in- terests in the various sections shewn on the Government Plan, and that this Com- mittee shall take into consideration the various points raised at the Meeting, and communicating with the Government, obtain a modification of the conditions speci- fied in the letter of the Colonial Secretary.
Honourable C. P. CHATER.
I beg to remain, Dear Sir,
Yours faithfully,
F. W. CROSS,
Manager.
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Resolution 4.-In consideration of the fact that the lots will be artificially reclaimed from the sea at great cost, His Excellency is disposed to relax the rules which would apply to lots situated on dry land, and will therefore consent to back-yards somewhat less than 15 feet in width. In this connexion the following scale is prescribed, and I am to add that no proposition to still further reduce the widths of back-yards will be entertained :---
Houses of a depth of 50 feet or less to have 10-foot yards,
Do. do.
from 50 to
Do. do.
froin 60 to
Do. do.
from 70 to
Do.
do.
from 80 to
Do.
do.
60 feet do. 70 feet 80 feet 90 feet from 90 to 100 feet do.
11-foot do.
do. do.
12-foot do.
13-foot do.
do.
14-foot do. 15-foot do. Resolution S.-Without at all assenting to the principle that marine lot- owners have an à priori right to the foreshore in front of their lots, such as would make it obviously fair that each should contribute to the whole reclamation only that part of the cost which had been incurred in respect of the portion allotted to him, the Governor is nevertheless disposed to think that there are considerations partly in connection with the cost to be incurred which appear to point to the justice of lower payment per area in some cases than others, and for that reason is willing to assent to the proposal contained in this Resolution; and if the lot- owners are willing to defray the cost, His Excellency will cause a detailed survey of the sea-bed to be prepared.
In conclusion, I am to state that it will not be possible to acquiesce in the demands contained in the rest of the Resolutions, and that the questions relating to the division of the lands and to the shape of the terminus at West Point, as well as the other points raised by your European correspondents in the Enclosures which you forward, may, with more advantage, be considered after the completion of the detailed surveys, when it will be possible to determine the position of the sea-wall with greater accuracy. But, whatever may be the position of the proposed new sea-wall, I am to mention that the extension of the cross Streets must be on the same centre line as the present cross Streets, of which they will be only a continuation, and that the sea-frontage between two cross Streets will, in every case, be equitably divided between lot-owners in proportion to their present frontage.
I have, &c.,
FREDERICK STEWART, Colonial Secretary.
X
No. 1781.
SIR,
(8.)
(Colonial Secretary to Mr. Chater.)
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 18th November, 1887.
Adverting to your letter of the 6th ultimo, on the subject of the proposed Praya Reclamation, I am directed by the Governor to request you to convey to the Chinese marine lot-owners His Excellency's regret at his inability to meet the whole of their views and wishes, as expressed in the Resolutions which
you forwarded.
The Governor would, however, be prepared to make concessious on the following points :-
Resolution 2.-His Excellency will adopt your suggestion, and allow the Contractors' first calls for payment on account of work executed, to be met from the preliminary deposit fund, until the latter is exhausted, on the understanding in respect of subsequent payments that any lot-owner failing to meet the calls of the Government for the balance of the moneys due by him shall forfeit his rights to the reclamation.
Resolution 3.-The Governor consents to the proposed new Praya roadway being reduced to a width of 65 feet.
Х
The Honourable C. P. CHATER.
SIR,
(7)
(Mr. Chater to Colonial Secretary.)
HONGKONG, 22nd November, 1887.
With reference to the last paragraph of your letter to the of the 18th instant where you state that the extension of the cross streets in the proposed new Recla- mation must be on the same centre line as the present cross streets, I would be obliged by your informing me whether it is meant that the extensions of these cross streets shall be a continuation in the same straight line of the present streets or whether you adhere to the original plan and make these extensions at right angles to the line of the proposed sea-wall. The passage in your letter which I refer to may have either meaning and I therefore would be obliged by your eluci- dating this point for the information of the marine lot-owners.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
The Honourable F. STEWART, LL.D.,
Colonial Sreretury.
C. P. CHATER.