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61
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648
No. 1449.
SIR,
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 9th July, 1895.
In reply to your letter of the 5th instant, I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to inform you that this Government is not prepared to dredge the foreshore in front of the Lot in question, and to refer you to my previous letters, to which I have nothing further to add.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.
T. Howaun, Esq.
SIR,
HONGKONG, 10th July, 1895.
I have lately been corresponding with the Government in reference to dredging the foreshore in front of Marine Lot No. 184; and yesterday received a letter from the Colonial Secretary, saying, "I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to inform you that this Government is not prepared to dredge the foreshore in front of the Lot in question," and he referred me to his previous letters, the last of which, dated the 3rd instant, says,-"If you are therefore now in a position to prove depreciation, you should follow the course indicated above," the course indicated being, to submit a statement of the depreciation to the Director of Public Works.
I, accordingly, now avail myself of that invitation, and submit the following statement.
At all times, and at all states of the tide, close access by water to our frontage by boats is necessary for carrying on the business of the Godowns; and prior to the commencement of the Reclamation, we had such access.
During the progress of the Reclamation, the foreshore has gradually silted up, and is now in such a state that, at low tides, boats cannot be brought up to the frontage, but have to be taken opposite to the Gas Works to discharge cargo, a course necessitating increased labour for the carrying coolies, and one liable to be stopped by the Gas Company.
The danger to boats coming to our frontage will be apparent when I tell that yesterday, a boat laden with cargo touched the bottom, sprung a leak, and damaged some cargo, and, that too, not at low water.
Boats touching the bottom is now of so frequent occurrence that I am apprehensive the owners will not much longer risk the danger; and if this feeling once takes possession of the boatmen, it is not difficult to foresee that the result will be, not only depreciation of the property, but ruin to the business connected therewith.
The sale value is gone already, for no one will buy a property which will become valueless for the only purpose it can be used, when the Government elects to proceed with the Reclamation in front thereof.
Before the Reclamation commenced, I had good offers for the property, but since, not one offer.
After the above statements, I think it unnecessary to write more until I hear from you what is proposed to be done in the matter.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
THOS. HOWARD.
The Honourable P. A. COOPER,
Director of Public Works.
No. 1564.
SIR,
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 27th July, 1895.
With reference to your letter of the 10th instant addressed to the Honourable the Director of Public Works and submitting a claim for compensation on account of alleged depreciation of your property known as Marine Lot No. 184 by reason of the construction of the Reclamation, I am directed to inform you that His Excellency the Governor is advised that there has been practically no silting up in front of the lot in question since the commencement of the Reclamation and that, therefore, the only ground on which the claim for compensation is based does not exist.
I have the honour to be,
T. Howard, Esq.
SIR,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Colonial Secretary.
HONGKONG, 30th July, 1895.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th instant, in reply to a letter addressed by me to the Director of Public Works on the 10th instant with reference to the silting up of the foreshore in front of Marine Lot No. 184.
You state that His Excellency the Governor is advised that "there has been practically no silting up in front of the Lot in question since the commencement of the Reclamation, and that, therefore, the only ground on which the claim for compensation is based does not exist."
The use of the word "practically" appears to imply that there has been some silting, but not enough to interfere with access to our frontage.
This statement is so far from fact that it is necessary for me to go into the question more fully.
In the year 1886 we completed the building of our Godowns and the Pier in front thereof, and dredged the foreshore on both sides of the Pier so that boats could be brought alongside and close to the sea-wall to discharge and take in cargo at all states of the tides.
On the 4th November, 1891, I notified the Government that the Pier had been damaged and thrown out of position by the works of the Reclamation.