601
proposed reclamation at North Point on the Hong Kong side. I abandoned this idea on ascertaining that even if we surrendered to Blackhead as large a part of the North Point Reclamation area as we could safely part with, there would still be a balance of some $300,000 due on Kowloon Lots.
Subsequently, I ascertained that the owner was not prepared to consider any proposal for an exchange, that he declined to permit any sidings to be laid across his land or to negotiate for the sale of such portions of it as were required for that purpose. He is, however, prepared to dispose of the whole of the property, and it is understood that he will accept a sum of about $600,000 for it.
8. As stated above, the original estimate for the preliminary reclamation scheme was $585,000. The Chief Resident Engineer, in a letter to the Consulting Engineers of the 30th November, 1906, estimated the cost of 700 feet of wall, which would allow ocean steamers to come alongside the proposed extension of the reclamation, together with a godown suitable for such traffic, at £50,000. Mr. A. J. Barry, who went into this matter locally with Mr. Eves, is, I understand, proposing the adoption of a much cheaper section of wharf wall on the pattern