57
646
No. 1615.
SIR,
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 27th August, 1892,
In reply to your letter of the 18th instant, I am directed by the Governor to inform you that from soundings taken over that portion of the foreshore between the Reclamation works in front of the adjoining Lot No. 185 and your pier in front of Lot No. 184, it has been ascertained that the level of the foreshore is practically the same as in 1889 prior to the commencement of the works,
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
[SER]
HONGKONG, 28th August, 1894.
Marine Lot No. 184.
On the 18th August, 1892, I called the attention of the Government to the fact that the works in connection with the Praya Reclamation had so affected the access by water to our frontage that, at low tide, boats laden with sugar could not come alongside as formerly; but nothing has, as yet, been done.
As time goes on, the matter becomes intensified, and to-day it is so bad that boats cannot come near the front.
I have therefore again to ask if His Excellency the Governor will give instructions to dredge the place and restore our means of access to the same condition that it was before the commencement of the Praya Reclamation.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
THOS. HOWARD.
To
G. T. M. O'BRIEN,
Colonial Secretary.
The Honourable J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
HONGKONG, 30th August, 1892.
No. 1727.
SIR,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th instant, in reply to mine of the 18th instant, in which you inform me that it has been ascertained from soundings taken that the level of the foreshore in front of our Godowns situated on Marine Lot No. 184, is practically the same as in 1889, prior to the commencement of the Reclamation works.
What meaning Government officials attach to the word "practically" in the above sentence, I do not know; but, if used in its restricted sense of "exactly," all I can say is that it is a strange freak of nature that the level should have risen, as pointed out in my letter to the Acting Colonial Secretary, under date 4th November, 1891, of which fact the Engineer in charge of the Reclamation works and his overseer had ocular demonstration, and now have sunk again without the cause having been removed.
It does not, however, require soundings to ascertain that the access to our frontage is not the same as in 1889; for, at that time, no foreshore could be seen at low water, whereas now at low water the foreshore prevents deeply laden boats coming up to the Praya Wall as formerly. I have, therefore, again to ask that the Government will restore our means of access to what it was before the Reclamation works commenced, unless the Reclamation has immediately to be proceeded with in front of our Lot.
I have the honour to be,
The Honorable G. T. M. O'BRIEN, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
THOS. HOWARD.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 5th September, 1894.
In reply to your letter of the 28th ultimo, I am directed to refer you to Mr. O'BRIEN'S letter No. 1615 of the 27th August, 1892.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.
Acting Colonial Secretary.
To
THOMAS HOWARD, Esq.
HONGKONG, 6th September, 1894.
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date in reply to mine of the 28th ultimo with reference to the silting up of the foreshore in front of our Marine Lot No. 184.
For an answer, you refer me to Mr. O'BRIEN's letter No. 1615, of the 27th August, 1892.
That letter was no answer to my request, dealing, as it did, with soundings; while my request had reference to the foreshore only, where soundings were not required to ascertain that which was visible to any observer at low tides.
Consequent upon the works of the Praya Reclamation on one side, and the sand coming from the Whitty Street drain on the other side of our Lot, the silting up of the foreshore has become serious, in that it precludes boats coming close to the Praya at low tides; and to such an extent has it increased that, during these low tides, boats have to be discharged opposite to the Gas Works, thus necessitating extra expense for carrying cargo to our Godowns.