CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12] — Page 493

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

Sir John Wolfe Parry to Crown Agents

13th January 1906

Gentlemen,

488

We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant and in reply to state our views.

So far as the portion of the Railway north of the tunnel is concerned we think that it would be advantageous to Government to carry out this part departmentally. With respect to the tunnel and the portion of the Railway south of the tunnel we think that a Contract could be let and the work be carried out by Contract if it were considered desirable to adopt that system. The Contract system would undoubtedly offer considerable advantages if the Contract were let to a reliable, substantial and experienced firm, who could give satisfactory guarantees as to time of completion and who would take all risks connected with tunnel work.

On the other hand we see no difficulty in carrying out the tunnel also departmentally in view of the fact that labour is plentiful. It will of course be necessary to engage a thoroughly qualified man experienced in rock tunnelling to put in charge of the work, and from enquiries which we have made we think such a man would be forthcoming.

The disadvantages of letting the tunnel and southern portion of the line by Contract are that considerable delay would be occasioned by getting out the Contract

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Sir John Wolfe Parry to Crown Agents 13th January 1906 Gentlemen, 488 We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant and in reply to state our views. So far as the portion of the Railway north of the tunnel is concerned we think that it would be advantageous to Government to carry out this part departmentally. With respect to the tunnel and the portion of the Railway south of the tunnel we think that a Contract could be let and the work be carried out by Contract if it were considered desirable to adopt that system. The Contract system would undoubtedly offer considerable advantages if the Contract were let to a reliable, substantial and experienced firm, who could give satisfactory guarantees as to time of completion and who would take all risks connected with tunnel work. On the other hand we see no difficulty in carrying out the tunnel also departmentally in view of the fact that labour is plentiful. It will of course be necessary to engage a thoroughly qualified man experienced in rock tunnelling to put in charge of the work, and from enquiries which we have made we think such a man would be forthcoming. The disadvantages of letting the tunnel and southern portion of the line by Contract are that considerable delay would be occasioned by getting out the Contract -6-

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Sir John Wolfe Parry to Crown Agents 13th January 1906 Gentlemen, 488 We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant and in reply to state our views. So far as the portion of the Railway north of the tunnel is concerned we think that it would be advan- tageous to Government to carry out this part depart- mentally. With respect to the tunnel and the portion of the Railway south of the tunnel we think that a Contract could be let and the work he carried out by fontract if it were considered desirable to adopt that system. The Contract system would undoubtedly offer considerable ad- vantages if the Contract were let to a reliable, sub- stantial and experienced firm, who could give satisfactory guarantees as to time of completion and who would take all risks connected with tunnel work. On the other hand we see no difficulty in carrying out the tunnel also departmentally in view of the fact that labour is plentiful. It will of course be necessary to engage a thoroughly qualified man ex- perienced in rock tunnelling to put in charge of the work, and from enquiries which we have made we think such a man would be forthcoming. The disadvantages of letting the tunnel and southern portion of the line by Contract are that con- siderable delay would be occasioned by getting out the -6- Contract $

2026-06-02 12:03:39 · Baseline

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Sir John Wolfe Parry to Crown Agents

13th January 1906

Gentlemen,

488

We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your

letter of the 9th instant and in reply to state our

views.

So far as the portion of the Railway north of

the tunnel is concerned we think that it would be advan-

tageous to Government to carry out this part depart-

mentally. With respect to the tunnel and the portion of

the Railway south of the tunnel we think that a Contract

could be let and the work he carried out by fontract if it

were considered desirable to adopt that system. The

Contract system would undoubtedly offer considerable ad-

vantages if the Contract were let to a reliable, sub-

stantial and experienced firm, who could give satisfactory

guarantees as to time of completion and who would take

all risks connected with tunnel work.

On the other hand we see no difficulty in

carrying out the tunnel also departmentally in view of

the fact that labour is plentiful. It will of course be

necessary to engage a thoroughly qualified man ex-

perienced in rock tunnelling to put in charge of the work,

and from enquiries which we have made we think such a man

would be forthcoming.

The disadvantages of letting the tunnel and

southern portion of the line by Contract are that con- siderable delay would be occasioned by getting out the

CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12] — Page 493

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