COPY.
SECRET
C.R.C.C. No.X/11361/AQ.
HEADQUARTERS,
CHINA COMMAND HONG KONG,
5th February, 1936.
15
Your Excellency,
1.
I have the honour to refer to the question
of the acquisition of the Arsenal Yard, Queens Road, by the
Colonial Government from the Admiralty, and the attendant
question of the removal or diversion of the existing overhead
ropeway.
2.
On the 12th June, 1931, it was represented to
Your Excellency by this Headquarters that it was impracticable
to divert the ropeway. It appears, however, that at a later
date it was accepted that the ropeway could be diverted at an
estimated cost of £5,000. The question as to who should meet
this cost has recently been the subject of correspondence
between the War Office and this Headquarters.
3.
The re-
I have now had this question under further
examination, and I am convinced that the diversion of the
ropeway to W.D. land is an unsound and uneconomical proposi-
tion from the point of view of all parties concerned.
erection of the gantry on W.D. land and the construction of new
pylons will seriously interfere with the arrangements in the
Ordnance Depot. When it is re-erected we retain a method of
transportation which does not meet military requirements. The ropeway was constructed at a time when communication was
required between the Magazine and the Arsenal Yard sea frontage
only, all ammunition passing from Magazines to ships. The
ammunition stored by the Army, however, must be distributed to
forts by road transport.
It is obvious, therefore, that in order to
save handling and time, direct access to the Magazines by road
is preferable.
His Excellency
The Governor
HONG KONG.