282.
Government House,
Hong Kong.
7th July 1925.
524
sir.
With reference to correspondence ending with
my telegram of the 28th April, I have the honour to sub- mit for your consideration thefollowing proposals regard- ing the development of the harbour.
2. I stated in my despatch No.63 of the 12th February last that Mr. Duncan's report had been referred to the Chambers of Commerce, but the Chambers have not hitherto made any observations upon it, nor, I under- stand, are they likely to do so unless some concrete proposal is put before them. With so many conflicting interests involved, unanimity as to the general policy to be pursued would be out of the question.
The
3. There is one point upon which, I think, there cannot be two opinions and that is the necessity for the provision of more deep water wharves. ahipowner is becoming convinced that, with the constantly increasing cost of labour, it no longerpays him to load and discharge from and into lighter in the stream, and there is a growing demand for wharf accommodation, with its very much small handling charges and greatly reduced risks of pilferage, where a ship can load and discharge direct from and into godown. Mr. Duncan discusses the matter from this aspect at pages 23 and 24 of his report.
4. ▲ commencement has already been made at
North Point, at the site marked "Reclamation under
Construction" on the enclosed plan. I reported regarding this in paragraph 3 of my despatch No.69 of the 16th February
Right Honourable
Lieutenant Colonel L.C.M.S.Amery, M.P.,
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