Copy.
166
Parliament Mansions,
Victoria Street,
Westminster, S.W.1.
7th October, 1925.
The Chief Engine er,
The Crown Agents for the Colonies, Millbank, Westminster,
S.W.1.
Sir,
HONG KONG, SHING MUN VALLEY WATERWORKS.
PIPES ACROSS HONG KONG HARBOUR.
Z. HONG KONG, 3521,
In accordance with your letter of instruction dated
22nd September, 1925, enclosing tenders received for the above
from :-
-
Messrs. Sir W.G.Armstrong Whitworth and Co.La.
&
Messrs. Wm. Muirhead, Macdonald, Wilson & Co. Ld.
I have carefully analysed the tenders and have interviewed the
representatives of both firms concerned; I have had their
explanations on points raised in the letters accompanying their
tenders, and now beg to report as follows:-
GENERALLY.
This Contract is an unusual one, and as it is Marine
work the prices cannot be very well compared with similar work
done on land, due to the usual risks attending such and the
difficulties of manipulating the different operations of
construction.
In addition, however, to the ordinary marine risks,
this contract would be subject to local risks arising out of
crossing the fairway of a busy Harbour, the exceptional lengths
of pipe mains between the points of connection to land, and the
climatic conditions which arise from time to time which are of
a severe nature, all of which are peculiar to the operations of
this Contract, and naturally the results are reflected in the
amounts of tenders.