447
20
further bring under their Lordships' notice, that if this transfer is favourably considered by them, that some arrangement should be come to with the Colonial Government that the Admiralty should, as now, be always enabled to have as much fresh water from Victoria as they may require, as the Colonial Government have practically an unlimited supply of the purest water, whereas at Kowloon the supply is entirely from wells sunk by the occupiers, and which in a dry season is apt to give out.
9. I believe that Mr. Brameton and Sir G. Phillippo thoroughly understand and agree that the present naval yard (should the transfer be approved of) would be at the service of the Admiralty until such time as the new site is ready for occupation.
10. I am further of opinion that it would be desirable to exchange some of the land at the back of the new Kowloon site, on which small garden allotments are marked, for the hill marked B, with the War Department, as this site being high would, from a sanitary point of view, be probably more desirable for building residences on if required, besides its being a commanding situation, and as the War Department have never used it up to the present, probably it would suit them to have the land more immediately adjoining their property.
11. I again attended at the Colonial Office at the same hour on the 10th instant, and met Mr. Branston, Colonel Locock, and Colonel Lloyd, R.E., the latter having been the Officer superintending the Admiralty works at Hong Kong during the earlier part of my command there; nothing further was settled on the naval point, but Colonel Locock stated that he was of opinion that there would be no objection on the part of the War Department to hand over the land seaward of the Queen's Road, west of the Wellington Barracks (which includes the North Barracks), to the colony, receiving the money value to be expended on new buildings.
12. To facilitate reference I have taken out from the numerous letters bearing on this subject those I have referred to, also the plan.
13. The remainder of the papers received with your letter of the 4th instant, D.W. 4275, are returned by parcel post.
The Secretary of the Admiralty.
D.W. 4546.
Sir,
I have, &c.,
GEO. DIGBY MORANT, Captain,
Superintendent.
Admiralty,
Admiralty to War Office.
8th August, 1888. I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to forward here- Hong Kong with the accompanying correspondence relative to the proposed extension of the Praya wall at Hong Kong, and I am to request that you will be so good as to move the Secretary of State for War to favour their Lordships with any remarks which he may have to make upon the proposed scheme.
8
1169
I am farther to request that the enclosures, which are in original, may be returned with your reply.
The Under Secretary of State for War.
I am, &c.,
EVAN MACGREGOR.
21
to the health and prosperity of Hong Kong; and I may observe that the removal of the naval establishments to Kowloon (the alternative scheme suggested) has proved, on further inquiry, to be impracticable, except at a cost wholly beyond the means of the colony.
I should therefore be greatly obliged by your Excellency's early consideration of this subject, and also if you will kindly communicate to me, orally or otherwise, the substance of any report on the subject which you may propose to make to the Lords of the Admiralty.
I have, &c.,
G. W. DES VEUX, Governor.
His Excellency Vice-Admiral
Sir Nowell Salmon, K.C.D., V.C.,
$0.
&C.,
&c.
Enclosure 2 in China Letter No. 146 of 8th May, 1888.
"Audacious," at Hong Kong,
11th April, 1888. In reply to your letter, No. 35 G, I have examined into the scheme for extending the Praya in front of the naval dockyard and, taken generally, shall have no objection to submit it for consideration to the Admiralty.
Sir,
2. The plan enclosed is, however, somewhat deficient in detail; so, before doing so, I should be glad to be assured on the following points, viz.:-
(1.) That the roadway and bridge be sufficiently walled in, not only to prevent trespassing on the Admiralty property, but also as a security against theft of Government stores.
(2.) That the Admiralty have the sole right of entry into the Camber.
(3.) That the existing sewers be carried out beyond the line of the new sea wall.
(4.) That the shore in front of the carpenters' shed and timber store be carried out 20 feet and sloped down to low water mark, with hauling-up slip for large boats, as at present.
(5.) That the width of the new jetty be 80 feet, and the shears be removed there.
(6.) That the Camber be dredged out to 10 feet.
3. On receiving assurance that these points will be included in the scheme, I will lose no time in forwarding it.
His Excellency
Sir G. Wm. des Voeux, K.C.M.G.,
&o., &c., &c., Hong Kong.
I am, &c.,
NOWELL SALMON, Vice-Admiral.
Enclosure 3 in China Letter No. 146 of 8th May 1888.
M
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No. 35 G.
Sir,
Enclosure No. 1 in China Letter 146 of 8th May 1888.
Government House, Hong Kong,
7th April 1888.
I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying plan of the proposed Praya embankment in front of the Royal Naval Yard recently prepared by the Surveyor-General and Major Brooke, Engineer to the Admiralty, and to request your Excellency, if you approve of the design, to recommend it to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for adoption, the colony defraying the cost of its execution.
Your Excellency is probably by this time aware that the early settlement of this long-pending question has become of urgent, I may say of gravely urgent, importance
Sir,
Government House, Hong Kong,
23rd April 1888.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the No. 41 G. 11th instant, on the subject of the proposed Praya extension in front of the naval yard, and to convey to your Excellency my thanks for your promise to lose no time in placing the matter before the Admiralty.
2. With regard to the points as to which your Excellency desires further assurance, I have pleasure in informing you as follows:-
(1.) The proposed bridge and roadway will be fenced on both sides by a wall or parapet, with the object, among others, of preventing trespassing on Admiralty property.
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