A
COPI
Ensters
Bon. Colonial Secretary,
C.0.
35430
RECO
WRrd 4 OCT GS
246
I had an interview with Messrs. Bruce and
Chatham yesterday on the subject of the Railway.
The field work of the preliminary survey of
both East and West Routes is now completed. Mr. Bruce has also at my request run a line from Fan Ling to the West Route where it enters the Hat Sia Gap along which a branch from Ping Shan to Fan Ling may ultimately be constructed.
The next fortnight will be employed by the
Surveyors in preparing the report on which I have finally to de-
-cide as to which route is to be adopted.
Mr. Bruce has absolutely no doubt and I have
but little doubt that this will be the East Route.
Assuming this, the detailed survey of and location of the centre line along that route will be put in hand
as soon as Mr. Bruce has completed his report i.e. towards the end
of this month.
The work will consist of three parts viz.;-
South of the Kowloon dills.
(1)
.(2)
North of the Kowloon Hills to Tai Po.
(3)
From Tai Fo to the frontier at Lo Fu.
With regard to (1) it is obviously inadvis- -able that the exact location of the centre line on the ground which involves putting up survey marks should take place while any of the property through which it passes remains in private bands. The location will therefore be postponed for the present. Mr. Bruce has furnished Mr. Chatham with a plan and section of the line in this part and the latter is now ascertaining what private properties are affected and making an estimate for the purchase of them. He does not think they will come to any considerable sum and the balance of the $25,000 voted for the Railway this
year
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