Page 358
Confidential
My Lord
PRINTED FOR USE,
EASTERN
No
88
COLONIAL
CA 30733
OFFICE
41029
REC
IP: 7 NOV 06
Government House.
9 October 1986
Referring to Your Lordship's telegram of the sixth instant, I have the honour to inform you that the Consulting Engineers advised that no action should be taken regarding the slow progress made on the Hongkong section of the Canton Kowloon Railway pending the receipt of a report for which they had telegraphed to the Chief Resident Engineer and in continuation of my Confidential dispatch of the 15th September on the same subject, I have the honour to enclose a copy of the report submitted by Messrs. Eves & Sir John Wolfe Barry and Partners
2. In the third paragraph of this report, Eves states that I have criticised his work unfavourably in some respects. I doubt whether the questions there put to him, when visiting the works or discussing his progress reports at our weekly meetings, can properly be called unfavourable criticisms. I certainly asked him whether he thought time would be saved by his plan of sinking a shaft of such depth close to the North Tunnel face (which shaft has quite been dispensed with and abandoned in favour of open cutting) and I may have noted a similar question with regard to the more important shaft at the South Tunnel Face. I have also asked questions as to the progress of the main railway, and why Mr. Eves attributed complaints as enabling plant to be delivered at the South Tunnel Face, and replied (in the same explanatory sense as he has now done to the Consulting Engineers). The bridges to which he refers as subject of anxiety are probably those at Tai Po Kau and Tang Shiu Kin, which I remember having remarked could require to be started early if this section was to be completed during the cold weather that is now setting in. I also remember having on several occasions insisted on the progress of the tunnel being the limiting factor in securing the early completion of the whole line, a proposition with which he cordially agreed.
I do not consider that my questions and remarks have been of the nature of criticism but
4
I have allowed it to appear that I have not been satisfied with the rate of progress
Conduct
actually my instructions in the
of the work as a whole. I have only disclosed what was the matter. I have carefully refrained from giving any directions as to the details of the work in his charge, and from deciding any point other than those which he has specifically referred for my decision, recognising his complete responsibility to the Consulting Engineers is on matter
3. My duty to report to you, keeping you fully informed and satisfied that the work is progressing satisfactorily, is equally clear to me and is especially impressed upon me by my recollection of the great delay and large outlay that came about by an unsatisfactory start having been made on the Kowloon-Canton Railway when it was first put in hand as the result of 1898.
4. I enclose a copy of a minute by the Director of Public Works to which I have referred the Resident Engineer's Report and the Consulting Engineers for his remarks. I have also concurred.
5. I also enclose a copy of the latest progress report dated the 6th instant and my § 4th Core.
The Signatory
The Soul of Dyin K9.
277-12
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
humble servant,
Reginald
Governor
Page 358
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Page 359
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358
Confidential
R
My Lord
RINTED FOR USE,
EASTERN
No
88
COLONIAL
CA 30733
OFFICE
41029
REC
IP: 7 NOV 06
Government House.
9 Odober 1986
Refuering to Your Lordship's belyram of the guilt in farming me their the Consulting Enfuisers advised that no adion Should be l'alcuni the malen of the slow proqrefs made on the Hongkong scation of the Cantor Kooloon Railway pending the 38925 receipt of a report for which they had belegraphed to the Chicgident Enfincer and in
continuation of my Confidential dispatch of the 15th September for the same subject, I have the housur to cuclose a copy of the report submitted 'ý vit Eves & Sir John Wooft Barry and Partners
2. Ve the with paragraph of this reput Eveo states that I have criticised his work why unfavorably 5 tinico. I doubt whathe the questions there put to him, when visiting the cooks or disuping his progrep reports af om weekly meetings can properly be called unfavorably criticisms. I cutainly asked him whiten he tusight find would be saved by his plan of viiking a shaft of sich depth clos& car Wath tunel face (which shaft has Quits been dis hoyed & the typhoon And abandoned in favour of ses oper uitting) and I may have noted a similar question. with spond to the more umpalaus shaft ab tim South Tunnel Fall. I have aler askis questions as to the progress of the mein quyc railway, & whia. Mi' Euw alhibuted cmpntaux as Enabling plant to be delivered at the South Tunnel Face, and releivis (în Same Explanalise as he has vows to the Consulting Enjuicers. The budges to estrich be refers subfut of anxiety to the are probably those oc. to Tai Po-he F. Tang Sachion which I remember hostry remarked coould exquire lobe started Carly of this section was tobe Completo during the cold weather that is hoe vetting inn. Salle remember havinyo sional occarious insisted on the procrap on tu tunne being lîm quiding factor in securing the Zarly completion of the while ink, a proposition with colich it low cordially agreed.
I do not conceda tus my questiouw and remnants have been of low nature of criticism but
4
I have allowed it to appear this I have heb been salisfið with Au rats of froçufs
Conduct
actually my faturigs in the
of the worth as a whole. I have suly discloved what an matter. I have carsfully rhamnă fura. Ifuiry & M'Euro
any
directions as li the ths work in his change, and from deciding any pouilo other than burst which he has specifically referred for my decision, recoguising his complete responsibilię t Ca. Consultry Exquiwers is on matter 3. My ma
duty to report to you, lakkip'y tam nd vadisfits that the work is propeping vatisfactorily, is equally clear to me and is expecially infrupidoc me by my recollection of the quad delay and large outlay that come aivolors by an unsatisfactory start having been made on the Goudfoard GovernmundiPailway when u cudutaku, was fived pus in hand as the rug put of 1898.
4. Ciélow a copy of a minute ly in Diveln of Jublic lonks to cohous ufurred tin duty Readend Enjuicer, Reput & the Consulting Enfincers for his remarko Ji Huse umaks ↓ quually concur.
5. Jalco Eutile a copy of the las propup report dand the 67 zenduð & mı § 4t Core.
The Sipas How
The Soul of Dyin K9.
277-12
ch
V have ttu honom bbe
My and
Your dadshifive mond obediand/
humble suvand
Triath
Governor
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