4.
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43
It may well be that there are urgent reasons for the
provision of an aerodrome in the Colony. From this point
of view a saving of some two years in reclaiming the land
may be of importance. This, however, is a matter which is
beyond our purview. We take it that we are consulted for an opinion as to the benefit of the harbour from the dredging
which would be incidental to the reclamation.
Clearly, the advantage of dredging, considered in
relation to the harbour alone, can only be gauged by
balancing the cost against the benefits to be expected. If the price proposed may be regarded as only fair and normal, there would be no financial advantage to the harbour; but if the proximity of dredging plant, which would other- wise be removed to a distance, should enable the Government
of Hong Kong to place the contract at a bargain price, then there would be some advantage in seizing this opportunity
to undertake such work as would be required in any case at
a later date.
As stated above the present offer is to dredge some
2 million cubic yards at a cost of approximately £150,000.
This works out at 1s. 6d. a cubic yard. We are advised by
the Consulting Engineers that if this sum includes depositing the spoils in the reclamation area, which appears to be the case, and if payment is based on measurement of the material when actually deposited, the price quoted may be regarded as very reasonable and such as would not attract a firm to
On the other come out from Europe for this purpose alone.
hand, we understand that if the deposit of the spoil on the site is not included, then the price quoted must be regarded
as not cheap, although it is a fair price.
No doubt it would have been more satisfactory to have
tested the position by preparing a general scheme for the dredging of the Harbour in relation to other contemplated
2.