PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
LLLLC.O. 882
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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5. They show a first section of a reclamation scheme, estimated to cost $585,000, designed to furnish ground for a passenger station and goods depôt and to allow of cargo being landed into this depôt from lighters, and also a complete scheme, esti- mated to cost about $9,576,000, which would enable the largest vessels afloat to unload directly on to quays and give ample space for the handling and housing of very large importations. The first section of the scheme should be undertaken simul- taneously with the construction of the railway; the complete scheme should be sub- sequently carried out in sections as funds can be made available and as the anticipated gradual growth of the port of Kowloon requires provision of the additional accommo-
dation.
6. I enclose a minute, dated the 3rd instant, by the Harbour Master, on the complete scheme. Captain Barnes-Lawrence considers that the greatest depth of water provided alongside the quays might be reduced from 40 to 36 feet. This would lessen the cost; on the other hand, the lowering of the Belcher Ridge so that there should be seven fathoms of water over it at low tide, which he recommends, would involve considerable additional expenditure. With regard to the question of the scheme hampering the movements of vessels going to and from the Hong Kong and Whampoa Docks, raised in the fifth paragraph of the Harbour Master's minute, it has seemed to me premature to consult the Manager of the Dock Company at the present time.
7. I suggest that a copy of this despatch and of its enclosures should be sent to the Railway Consulting Engineers for their consideration of the first section of the scheme in connection with the Canton-Kowloon Railway. It will only be necessary for them to consider at the present time the complete scheme to the extent of avoiding in the laying out of the station yard arrangements which might be inconvenient when further sections of this scheme are undertaken.
8. Mr. J. C. Bruce, Chief Surveying Engineer for the Canton-Kowloon Rail- way, who entirely concurs in the terminus being at Hunghom Bay, is shortly re- turning to England on completion of his work here and will be available to assist the Consulting Engineers in dealing with this matter. Mr. Boulton, who expects to arrive in England on leave in June next, will, I am sure, also be glad to give them informa- tion derived from his great experience of reclamation works at Hong Kong.
9. I shall await the report of the Consulting Engineers before making proposals for the provision of funds for the first section of the reclamation.
SIR,
(No. 935.)
Enclosure 1 in No. 213.
I have, &c..
M. NATHAN,
Governor, &c.
Public Works Department, Hong Kong, December 27, 1905.
I BEG to forward you preliminary drawings and estimates for a scheme of rc- clamation to provide a site for the terminus in Kowloon of the Kowloon-Canton Rail- way. The site is in Hunghom Bay, the reasons which have led to its selection being:-
(i.) The harbour frontage is still in the possession of the Government. (ii) It is close to Kowloon Point.
(iii) The configuration of the sea-bed renders the bay favourable for an exten-
sive reclamation.
(iv.) Deep-water frontage is procurable.
(v.) The railway can be more easily constructed to Hunghom Bay than to any other portion of the Kowloon Peninsula which would be suitable for a terminus.
The complete scheme of reclamation contemplated is a very extensive one. It comprises an area of 143 18 acres, of which it is proposed to utilize 117 52 acres for the terminus, and affords 9,240 lineal feat of bertbage for vessels, the depth of water alongside the quays at low water ranging from 40 feet to 8 feet. In providing for so great a depth of water as 40 feet, I have been guided by the fact that there are Low two of the Great Northern Steamship Company's vessels entering the port which
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are designed to draw 38 feet when fully laden. The dimensions of these vessels are as follows:-
Minnesota
Dakota
Length.
Breadth.
Load Draft.
ft. in. 630 0
ft. in.
73 6
ft. in. 38 6
"
"1
In addition to these, the Pacific Mail Steamship Company and the Boston Tow Boat Company have large steamers frequenting the port, the following being the dimensions of the largest:-
Mongolia
Manchuria
Tremont
Shawmut
Length.
Breadth.
Load Draft.
ft. in.
ft. in.
ft. in.
615 0
65 0
1
33 6
505 0
58 0
27 0
It will thus be seen that, though not required for vessels trading to European ports, on the dimensions of which the Suez Canal has a restrictive effect, it is necessary, on account of the trans-Pacific trade, to provide for the largest class of steamers likely to be built and the scheme has been designed with that object in view.
It is intended, in the first instance, to confine operations to the area shown on the plan entitled "First Section of Scheme," the estimated cost of which is $585,000, The reclamation will be protected by a mound of rubble, finished on the outer face with a pitched slope, where junks and lighters can be loaded or discharged. The shallowness of the water precludes the possibility of berthing any steamer near the reclaimed area and, until some of the deep-water berths shown on the complete scheme are provided, all cargo brought to or by the railway will have to be delivered by lighters. This is a common practice at the present time, comparatively few steamers going alongside a wharf for the purposes of loading or discharging cargo into the existing warehouses.
As funds become available, the complete scheme can be carried out in sections. The entire work, inclusive of the first section, but exclusive of equipment, is estimated to cost $9,576,000 or about £1,000,000 sterling. In view of the immense sums ex- pended in connection with the principal ports in England, this amount cannot be regarded as excessive seeing that Hong Kong is now the first shipping port in the world in the matter of tonnage and there is every indication of further expansion in its trade.
It has been considered prudent, in designing the scheme, to provide an area sheltered water where vessels, especially those of small size, can obtain refuge from typhoons. When a storm of this kind threatens to come near Hong Kong, it is the custom of small craft to seek refuge in good time and not to abandon it until there are ample indications that the storm has passed, the period generally extending over two or three days. It is obvious that railway traffic would be seriously inconvenienced by such a state of affairs and the provision of a small harbour of refuge adjoining the terminus is intended to obviate it as far as possible.
No attempt has been made to go into details of the scheme pending approval of its general outlines. It is, however, intended that the station for passenger traffic should be laid out alongside Des Voeux Road towards the southern extremity of the reclamation and that the remainder of the area should be available for the storage and manipulation of cargo. It is also intended to provide accommodation for the workshops required in connection with the railway on another reclaimed area in Tai Kok Tsui Bay, which is situated on the west side of the Kowloon Peninsula.
The section of the quay wall shown is merely for basing an estimate on and must not be regarded as a definite design. In any design adopted it will be advisable to provide