10
we embark on expenditure on it.
The local
engineering advice at the Governor's disposal is
not of the highest order, as Public Works do not
icom as large in Hong Kong as in bigger Colonies.
The Consulting Engineers only had 24 hours in
which to express a hurried view. It seems to me
essential to get their considered opinion before
any contract is let, and this could be done as soon
as we have cleared up by telegraph the ambiguity
mentioned.
The points to be put to the Consulting
Engineers for their considered opinion seem to be:-
(a) What, if any, the effect of this work
will be from the harbour point of view
-
set of
currents etc. This is a most difficult problem
for any one to pronounce on, and we ought to
give even the Consulting Engineers sufficient time
for a considered opinion.
(b) Whether if this work is done it will
involve the Colony in the annual expense of
maintaining a dredger and continually dredging to
keep the depth gained;
(c)
Whether, supposing the Consulting
Engineers report unfavourably on (a) or (b) or
both, and again supposing that for reasons of
policy it is decided that a second 1,000,000 cubic
yards of filling must be found for the Kaitak
aerodrome, the Consulting Engineers would advise
that this second 1,000,000 cubic yards should be
obtained from some other spot where no annual
dredging will be required.
It can make no difference to the aerodrome
where we get the mud required to fill it. On the
other
file
Page 10Page 11