CO129-179 - Governor Hennessy - 1877 [9-12] — Page 364

15. The area of sheltered water enclosed would be fifty-eight acres, but what is equally impor tant, there are also twenty-six acres of sandy foreshore well adapted for beaching purposes.

16. The deeper portions of the area between the Breakwater and low water mark will suffice to accommodate all cargo lighters and the sampans of deep draught that have not fled to the Kowloon side of the Harbour and which would, under all circumstances of weather, remain at anchor; while through. the shallower space between low and high water marks and through openings in the present old ruined Causeway, wide channels may be dredged giving access to the beaching ground.

17. The Causeway will form a second line of defence against the surf, and afford still greater security to the smallest boats.

18. The site of the Breakwater is shown in the accompanying drawing stretching easterly in the direction of the granite quarries for a length of 450 yards from a point nearly abreast of the corner of the Sugar Refinery sea wall. At each extremity, openings one hundred and thirteen yards wide, are left for entrance and exit, and for the free passage of the tides which, if more seriously impeded, might promote the deposit of silt.

19. Leaving the description of the necessary works to the proper professional quarter, we would conclude by recommending the site as the only one on this side of Victoria Harbour adapted to the formation of a sufficiently large basin.

20. Although the situation is unfortunately not only to windward of the boat population, but also somewhat distant from their haunts, we consider these defects might be met by the regular institution of Government storm signals giving the people timely warning of the approach of danger and the oppor- tunity to take refuge against it.

21. We have also carefully considered the necessity or otherwise of a shelter at Yau-ma-ti or other point in the Peninsula of Kowloon, but as we find the boat population of the latter have already several natural havens and inlets offering fair security against South-West winds, the only ones that can affect them, we are of opinion that a second Harbour of Refuge at British Kowloon is not, at least for the present, a public requirement.

We have the honour to be,

Your obedient Servants,

Sir,

J. M. PRICE.

J. DIXON, R.N.

H. G. THOMSETT, R.N.

S. ASHTON.

J. P. McEUEN, R.N. R. MCMURDO.

Referring to l'aragraph 20 of this Report, I desire to call attention to a Notification in the Govern- ment Gazette of the 4th August last instituting a storm signal by hoisting Drums at the Harbour Office and Police Hulk, and firing a gun when bad weather is apprehended.

The Honourable CECIL C. SMITH,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

44

H. G. THOMSETT,

Harbour Master.

AUDACIOUS," AT HONGKONG,

4th November, 1877.

SIR-I have read the enclosed Report on the creation of a Harbour of Refuge for native boats at Hongkong with great interest. The reasons for preferring the proposed Breakwater at the Causeway Bay site to the two Breakwaters at Kellett's Island appear to me to be very cogent, and I have little doubt but the Causeway Bay scheme is the better of the two.

That there is no shelter for the large floating population of 12,000 persons, and that great numbers of them are drowned whenever a typhoon reaches this Island, viz., about on an average every 3

is a sufficient justification for the outlay, which I hope to hear will soon be undertaken.

years,

I brought the subject before the Island Authorities in a letter dated 9th March, 1877, enclosing one from the late Captain BAX of H. M. Ship Sylvia. The Chinese and Japanese are ordinarily very care- less and indifferent to life preservation; the example we would set them by erecting this Breakwater for the preservation of Chinese lives and property will be appreciated.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your Excellency's obedient Servant,

A. P. RYDER, Admiral, Commander-in-Chief.

His Excellency JOHN POPE HENNESSY, C.M.G.,

Governor and Commander-in-Chief,

&c.,

&c., &c.,

HONGKONG.

Gran Aperts

MINUTE.

163

15447

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Mr. Round 4th Jour 7

Mr. Bramston.

Mor. Malcolm.

Mer. Meade.

Mr. Herbert,

Mr. Lowther

Lord Carnarvon.

Mr Meade.

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2:52-5July 1877

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h2 163 - 22 A plans & printed act; Lory:

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362

9 January 1877.

I am directed

the Parl of Camarion

to trammit to you for

Copies

your consideration

of correspondence beteren the Governor of Hongking and his Lordships relative.

to the construction of a

proposed breekwater for

the protection of the Junt

Bpulation of Victoria Afiniex typhoon

Lord Camaroon understand that in his John loode's

Absence from England.