Enclosure No. 9 to Governor's Despatch
No.: 407 of the 14th October, 1901.
Hon. Colonial Secretary,
This petition is very moderately-worded, the statements it contains are in the main correct and it is very influentially, though not numerously supported. It is therefore worthy of serious consideration.
That the granite obtainable in many places is of excellent quality and that the quantity is practically unlimited there can be no doubt. At the same time, however, granite is only found over about half the area of the Island of Hongkong, being replaced by trap rock in the western portion of the Island. In Kowloon it abounds all over the old territory and over a very considerable area of the new.
The quarrying of it is a thing which should be developed by every reasonable means as it should and does undoubtedly form a considerable source of revenue, numerous objections...
The system of farming is open to objections. In the first place, the area within which quarrying is allowed is restricted to those portions indicated on the plans and no quarrying can be allowed by Government outside these areas. It might happen that some important enterprise would be started at some part where an abundant supply of granite could be obtained close at hand. The promoters would however be compelled to purchase from the Quarry Farm and expend money in conveying the stone a long distance.
As I read the existing Agreement, it appears to me that Government has no power even to open quarries for its own works. Thus, if the terms of the Agreement are to be strictly adhered to, it will be necessary to carry the granite for the dams to be shortly undertaken at Tytam, a distance of several miles, instead of obtaining it from a place close by adjoining the work. This is obviously an absurd state of affairs and would render the cost of the work prohibitive.
Again, in sales of land, all granite is reserved to the Crown. The owner is permitted to make use of stone for his own requirements but, in consequence of the Quarry Farm, he is forbidden to dispose of any of it. The Quarry Farmer is debarred, under the terms of his Agreement, from making arrangements with the owner, because the land is outside the area of his farm and the result is that, if the terms of the Agreement are strictly observed, any surplus stone must be thrown to waste. This is also absurd.
Again