CO129-287 - Public Offices & Others - 1898 — Page 491

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REO

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REG 11 JAN 13

No.114/G.

Government House,

Hong Kong, 5th August 1897.

Sir,

With reference to Your Excellency's letter

No.1453/4d of the 16th ultimo, I have the honour to state

that I am advised that the construction of such a path

as Your Excellency suggests along the high level between

Wanchai and Wong-nei-Chang Gaps would be of little value

to the community as compared with the proposed road

along the lower level connecting the two Gaps, and more

especially as the whole area above the 800 feet contour

of Mount Cameron is a Military Reserve, and therefore

not available for building sites, as Your Excellency

suggests.

As however the tactical value of a road along

the lower level is not sufficient to justify the War

Department in sharing the expense of construction, I am

prepared to consider whether such a road should be con-

structed entirely at the expense of the Colonial

Government, but before approaching the Legislative Council

on the subject, I should like to be informed to what

extent the War Department would be prepared to relinquish

the Military Reserve in the locality of Mount Cameron in

consideration of the construction of a level road between

the two gaps by the Colonial Government.

I have etc:

(Signed)

William Robinson.