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IV.
Some objection has been raised to the suggested constitu- tion of the proposed board and as, undoubtedly, the Chinese will expect and may demand a much greater share in the administration of the Colony, an alternative proposal to draw up an electorate of port interests and the mercantile community and to decide by vote who shall represent these interests on the board has been canvassed by interested parties. I cannot see, however, that the constitution of the board should be radically altered. safeguards recommended by Sir David appear adequate.
V.
The
Today the physical state of H.K. is such that improvements and developmenta considered impossible four years ago now appear not only practicable, but urgently desirable. And in this con- nection, I would plead that no vital steps in the reconstruction of Hong Kong be taken before and until the Port Trust is set up and has had time to consider the schemes of development.
VI. Undoubtedly every effort should now be made to tackle the question of the resumption of the Military and Naval Lands, not only in Kowloon where the development of the harbour and of the city has been cramped for so long, but in Hong Kong. The Military and Naval establishments in the ceare of the town from Murray Road to Arsenal Street and fror "be aval Dockyard to Bowen Road should be resumed as soon as possible and suitable areas of land should be given an exchange for these outside the limits of the harbour as now laid down and as agreed upon between the Military and Naval authorities. In Kowloon, Whitfield Barracks and the Naval Stores Depot should be resumed. This applies also to Gun Club Hill and neighbouring lands used by the Army for recreational purposes; In addition, that area of land North of Austin Road as far as Jordan Road and West of Nathan Road as far as Canton Road should also be entirely resumed. This area is now very badly wrecked and would have to be rebuilt in any case, but the land is much too valuable for domestic use and should be earmarked for the Railway in connection with the proposal to connect the H.K.&K. Wharf and Godown Co.'s property by a line
under Nathan Road at Austin Road. This would remove the necessity of the railway link at Tsim Sha Tsui and make possible the transfer of the K.C. R. station to a new site and the proper and logical development of the land west of Holt's Wharf and on the centre line of Nathan Road produced, as the traffic concourse for those wishing to cross that harbour by Ferry or eventually by tunnel when that proposal again becomes economically possible. The resumption of the Dockyard area in Hong Kong would assist in making possible an extension of the reclamation from Queen Victoria Street to Murray Road and a realignment of the sea wall fronting this area. Part of the existing Naval Dockyard ares should be earmarked for the new ferry concourse and for the tunnel spiral and underground offices when that scheme eventually is put in hand.
VII. The Central Reclamation Scheme as shown on the plan accompanying Sir David's report is a proposal of long standing. The maintenance of privately owned piers along the frontage from Jubilee Street to Queen Street has, in company with that of all other port works, been conspicuous by its complete absence and many of the etructures are now due for demolition. At the earliest opportunity, I consider steps should be taken by the Trust to begin construction on the first portion of the Central Reclamation Scheme or that portion between Queen Street and Cleverly Street. This would involve the cancellation of the leases of all piers on that frontage as from the 31st Dec., 1945. The leases of all piers found to be in a dangerous state should also be cancelled. This refers to structures West of the Naval Dockyard.
VIII. Sir David recommended (18) that the reclaiming of land 'rom the waters of the Harbour be undertaken by Goveriment
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