448
22
(2.) It is understood the Admiralty have the sole right of entry into the boat basin.
(3.) The plan transmitted to your Excellency shows no sewers, and none are contemplated in this locality.
(4.) In the same plan, your Excellency will find that your wish to have the shore projected 20 feet in front of the carpenters' shed has been anticipated. There will be no objection to adding a hauling-up slip.
(5.) The plan also shows the new jetty, 80 feet wide.
(6.) The basin will be dredged out to the depth of the sea outside at the entrance under the bridge; but whether this would be 10 feet, it would be difficult to say now. Your Excellency will readily understand that it would be almost impossible to maintain a depth in the basin greater than that of the sea at the entrance.
23
capabilities of the naval yard will be much improved, and the inconvenience of having a public road in front of the naval yard will be much reduced. I would, however, submit that the height of the under side of the bridge from the water should not be less than 12 feet at high water, as shown on the plan, there being an average rise and fall of tide of 6 feet at Hong Kong.
The correspondence and plan are herewith returned.
I have, &c.,
GEO. DIGBY MORANT, Captain,
Superintendent.
The Secretary of the Admiralty.
War Office to Admiralty.
War Office, Pall Mall, S.W.,
I have, &c.,
G. W. DES VEUX, Governor.
His Excellency Vice-Admiral
Sir Nowell Salmon, V.C., K.C.B.
No. 146.
Sir,
HONG KONG Naval Yard-proposed extension of the Praya in front of.
"Audacious," at sea,
Lat. 26° 12' N., Long. 120° 30′ E.,
8th May 1888. At the request of the Hong Kong Government, and with reference to your letter D.W.4315 of the 7th February 1888,* I have the honour to submit, for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a scheme for the extension of the Praya similar in its general features to that submitted by Sir William Dowell, but more liberal in its proposals.
2. In conjunction with Commodore Maxwell and Major Brooke, R.E., I have taken into my most careful consideration the present scheme, and feel that I can safely recommend it to the acceptance of their Lordships.
3. It will increase considerably the area of the dockyard, will improve the harbour frontage and jetty, permitting gunboats and vessels of similar draught of water to lie alongside, and will provide a camber large enough and deep enough to afford shelter in a typhoon to all the dockyard craft.
4. The inconvenience and risk of a public road passing through the Admiralty property is minimised by the provision that it be securely fenced in; and the Commodore is of opinion that it will not necessitate an increase of the police force.
5. Should this scheme meet with their Lordships' approval, I have the honour to request they will authorize me to accept it definitely when the plans are completed, as the Hong Kong Government is urgent in the matter.
The Secretary of the Admiralty.
I am, &c.,
NOWELL SALMON, Vice-Admiral
Sir,
8 1169
31st August 1888. With reference to your letter of the 8th instant, D.W. 4516, respecting the Hong Kong extension of the Praya wall, at Hong Kong, I am directed to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the Secretary of State for War is not in a position to offer any remarks upon the scheme alluded to in your letter, until a communication shall have been received from the colony, as to what is proposed to be done in regard to the extension of the Praya wall in front of the War Department property.
I am to observe that if their Lordships are satisfied with the proposals, if the War Department requirements at Wellington Barracks are met, and if the Colonial authorities carry out the entire scheme at their own expense, it does not appear to the Secretary of State that there would be any necessity for his resisting the same.
I am, however, to point out that it is proposed to dispose of the North Barracks, and eventually of the commissariat buildings, which are the two War Department properties, adjoining the east and west of the dockyard. This sale will render it impracticable to extend the Admiralty establishments laterally, except at enormous cost.
It is, therefore, for their Lordships' consideration whether it would not be advisable to press the Colonial authorities to carry out the scheme of moving the dockyard to Kowloon, as heretofore proposed.
I have, &c.,
The Secretary to the Admiralty.
Sir,
Colonial Office to War Office.
Colonial Office, Downing Street,
3rd November 1888. With reference to your letter, Hong Kong, of the 20th of January, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to enquire whether Mr. Secretary Stanhope has yet heard from the military authorities in Hong Kong, relative to the scheme proposed in the letter from this department of 16th January last for the extension of the Praya roadway in Hong Kong, and whether he is now in a position to favour his Lordship with his views on the subject.
The Under Secretary of State,
War Office.
I am, &c.,
JOHN BRAMSTON.
1183
No. 316.
EXTENSION of Praya Wall, Hong Kong.
Her Majesty's Dockyard, Pembroke Dock,
10th July 1888.
Sir,
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated the 7th instant, D.W. 4519, relative to the proposed extension of the Praya wall, Hong Kong, in front of the naval yard, with enclosures, and I have to report, for the information of their Lordships, that after reading the correspondence, and examining the plan, I am of opinion that if the proposal be carried out as approved by the Commander-in-Chief in China, that the...
* Gen. No. 35 of 7th April 1888, Gen. No. 41 of 23rd April 1888, and M 26 of 11th April.
Sir,
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office,
14th November 1888. With reference to your letter of the 3rd instant, respecting the Praya wall at Hong Kong, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you, for the information of Lord Knutsford, that a report has been received from the General Officer Commanding on the subject, and that the matter is now under consideration.
I have, &c.,
RALPH THOMPSON.
The Under Secretary of State.
Colonial Office, S.W.