1941-01-20 — Page 92

CHINA MAIL, PACE 44

1841

HONG KONG CENTENARY NUMBER

..... 1941

19411

Colony's Premier Industry

THE striking beauty of the har-

bour of Hong Kong is at once the subject of content and ad- miration of every visitor arriving in the Colony for the first time The magnifleent harbour, scarcely rivalled in any part of the world. renowned for its deep anchorag no less than for its geographical situation

the at

gateway Southern China. mevitably at. tracts shipping from all parts of the world.

merchantmer

It is not difficult, therefore, to understand that to meet the re- quirements of the frequenting the Colony, one of the first industries that found a secure foothold after settlement of the Colony by Britons was that of the docking and repairing, and later, of the building of ships.

This, in fact, was one of the primary reasons for establishing a Colony in Hong Kong. Article II1 of the Treaty of Nanking, ratified in 1843, states, "That it being ob- viously desirable that British sub- jeets should have some whereat they may careen and refit their ships, as required, and keep stores for that purpose, His Ma- jesty the Emperor of China redes to Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain the Island of Hong Kong to be possessed in perpetuity by Her Britannic Majesty the Queen.

First Consideration

It will thus be seen that the needs of British shipping were The considerations that prompted the acquisition of the island and the passage of time has more than justified the foresight of those who were responsible for its selection

If 100 years ago, the Colony was dependent upon shipping for its welfare and had consequently to equip itself for the repair of ves- sels, how much more so to-day Inevitably, as ships grew larger and more complicated during the Colony's century of development. Increasing provisions were made to meet the needs of the times, until to-day, the Colony has several shipbuilding and repatring yards, two of them being of in- ternational importance.

How much indeed shipbuilding is recognised as the premier in- dustry of the Colony was shown, first, by the placing of orders in Hung Kong for big freighters of a standard type to contribute to meeting the British Government's urgent war needs, and secondly by the emphasis placed on the impor- tance of Hong Kong's shipbuilding at the New Delhi Conference a short time ago.

Modest Beginnings

Shipbuilding in the Colony, na- turally, had very modest begin- nings. It is believed that Jardine's were first to do repair work, at a slipway at East Point, but they were chiefly concerned with the care of their own ships.

The industry really began in earnest when docks were opened at Aberdeen, since when the facili- ties available have Increased. to the point where shipbuilding and repairing must be regarded as our premier industry.

In the docks and shipyards be- longing to the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company at Hunghom Bay and · Shamshuipo, · the greatest trans-Pacific liners can be and ore, safely drydocked- for bottom-cleaning and periodi cal overhaul for survey to meet the requirements of the Board of Trade.

The shipbuilding berths are cap- able of the largest keel being laid up to 15,000 tons weight and even of larger, tonnage,

On the other side of the har- bour is inother, magnificently equipped establishment, the Tal- koo. Dock and Engineering, Com-

pany, with a large graving dock second to none. In times of pros- perity, as now in the shipbuilding industry, these yards find active employment for thousands Chinese,

Before Hong Kong

THE history of the Hong Kong &

Whampoa Dock Company goes back to the time before Hong Kong was ceded to the British Government. In the days before the Suez Canal was opened the P. & O. had vessels running to Canton and these were docked in Mud Docks at Whampoa, about 12 miles below Canton.

The P. & O. Interests we're looked after by a Shipwright, an Aberdonian named Couper, who eventually acquired an interest in the docks and left the P. & 0.

2

11

50-ton fitted with a

overhead. crane and large machines includ- ing 60 centre lathe, No. 5 Kearns borer, large p.aners, 9 ft, radial drill, lathe with 65 ft. between centres, with various smaller ma- chines and a test bed to accom- modate a 10,000 h.p. diesel engine. The usual tool room is arranged.

is Supplying these shops

castings foundry in which steel made by the electric process to to finished weight of four tons, iron castings up to 25 tons, non- ferrous castings up to 12 tons as well as a forge with a 10-ton and smaller hammers in which ingots of up to 20 tons weight are forged, anl There is a large sawmill joiners' shop and a well equipped electric shop.

The wharves and docks are well equipped with fiting appliances, At the East Yard where there is

The "Empress of Japan" in the No. 1 Kong and Whampoa Dock Company.

service to take up the business of docking ships. He increased and improved the facilities and buil

In 1856 stone graving dock. there was trouble with the Chi- nese who broke into the establish- ment, damaged the docks and seiz- ed Couper's father who was taken away and never heard of again. An indemnity was paid to Couper who later sold his interest and left the docks which were shortly afterwards managed by Captain Minto.

In 1857, Lamont started the con- struction of Lamont Dock at Aber- deen in the Island of Hong Kong --later building a second dock, the Hope dock-a very large dock in its time, 380 feet long. After a time the docks at Aberdeen and those at Whampoa were brought under one management to

form The Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Company which was registered, as a Hong Kong Company in 1866. Later the Union Docks at Kow- loon, Cosmopolitan Dock on the West side of the Kowloon Penin- sula and some patent ships were acquired.

Gradually the Union docks from their convenient situation and sheltered position were built up

to form what is to-day the Com- pany's principal establishment,

The Company's properties now consist of

I. KOWLOON DOCKS. No. 1 Dock

.692′ x 83′ No. 2 Dock No. 3 Book No. 1 Sup

.434′ x 82°1000′2′′

No. 2 Slip

1500: Tons' Capacity "900". Tona -Capacity.

11, COSMOPOLITAN-DOCK

442′ x 85′ 6" x 13'8′′

II. ABERDEEN DOCKS: Hope Dock

..433′ x 98' x 56' Lamont Dock ..333' x 63′ 8′′ × 43′6′′ Kowloon. Docks, as has been said, is the main establishment and is well provided with heavy capacity plant and machinery of the latest types.

In addition to the docking fack litles there are two large machine shops, the more modern one being

Dock of the Hong

a depth of water alongside of 35 leet at L.W.O.S.T. is a giant crane which can lift 100 tons at 70 L radius and 15 tons at 150 ft.-the total length of the horizontal arm At the of this crane is 220 ft. Intermediate wharf which is be- tween Nos. 1 and 2 docks is a 70 on sheers fitted with a Babcock head patent luffing & Wilcox

outreach of 70 which gives an feet, as well as a 10-ton electric

there are now in hand several 0000 the Dock ton ships for which Company

building engines. boilers and a large part of the There are also deck machinery、

are

a few smaller vessels being built. Heat trea ment of steel castings and forgings is carried modern furnaces metallurgical

out ili

expert Electric

under control. welding is extensively used in alt parts of the Works and is of the high quality required for boiler repairs. Metallising is another of special the activities calling for notice.

and

There are the usual shops appliances for blacksmiths. coppersmiths, sheet iron workers and plumbers, galvanising, and in fact all the auxiliary work con- sequent on the requirements large repairs and building well provided for in balance with the rest of the Works.

Shop Testing

of

are

As

From its remote situation from sources of supply more work is done in the establishments than is the case in countries where spe- cialist manufactures are availabic. Thus, shafting with liners, etc. required can be completely pro- duced stern frames forged or cast. large iron cas'ings made and ma

hined and there are facilities and stocks of material always at hand for any type of repairs to hulis engines and boilers.

For years replace or spare par'> of diesel engines have been manu –

ae ef and in 1936 a sub-Feence

from was obtained

Harland 3- Woff for the manufacture of die. sel engines of the Burmeister & Wain type. Up to date seven of these diesels have been built-the largest one being 2000 B.H.P. For these engines the Dock Company make their own steel and iron castings including the Chrome- Molybdenum steel piston CLOWNS and cylinder heads, cut their own gear wheels and in fact produce at their own Works every part of the engine except valves springs and fuel injection pumps and valves. The shop testing is don in the usual manner, the engin under test being coupled to Heenan & Froude dynamomete which is capable of taking loads

H.W.D

The 100-ton crane at Kowloon Dock, serving two-chips,

up to 5000 BH.P.,at 200 ravs, pez. minute.

crane for quick handling of the lighter lifts. Two 10-ton cranes at the West end of the Works complete the quayside appl'ance. Each dock is served by crani running up the dockside, Wharf- age space is large but is being in- creased by the adding of a "new deep water berth to accommodate a 800 ft. ship.

The Dock Company is well situated for the extensive pro- gramme of shipbuilding 'wh'ph i' has in hand. There are build'nt slips and well equipped machin shops capable of accommodatin, at the same time five, 9000 ton ships as well as smäller ones, and

Great Stocks

There is a good suvplý: nf ex“, cellent abour and a large Euro-; pean Staff provides the necessary supervision for prompt and accur ate repairs. . Great- stocks of ma- ter als are maintained · and any emergency can be mete

The Eu opcan staff.ro accom- moda'ed, near the Works and are thus always' at hund "when quired, m

[re -'

The Docks are easily accessible.

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