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Enclosure 4.
REPORT OF CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE.
A Typhoon of extraordinary velocity struck the Colony on the night of the 27th of July. Coming as it did so soon after the heavy rains of the previous week, which culminated in a severe thunderstorm on the 24th, the damage done on land was very great, and most of the houses in the Colony suffered some damage. At "Kingsclere " Hotel a chimney was blown down, which, falling through the roof caused considerable damage, and the débris buried a European for some hours. I have received a letter from Messrs. Showan, The party Tomes & Co. thanking the Police for their "splendid work in rescuing him". was in charge of Chief Inspector Baker. A similar mishap in King's Buildings caused a collapse, which was doubtless made tnore serious by the presence of some heavy iron safes A number of old houses on the upper floors. Fortunately no loss of life occurred. collapsed at Yaumati and Shaukiwan, resulting in 66 deaths. Several Mission houses in Cheung Chau were blown down. Trees suffered severely everywhere: telephones and telegraphs also. With the exception of the loss of the S.S."Ying King" which foundered in Castle Peak Bay the damage done afloat was not so serious as might have been expected. Several ships went ashore, including H.M.S. "Whiting", or dragged their moorings. Seven launches were sunk and seven went ashore. A water boat and several lighters were sunk. Three of the Police launches were damaged. They A Star Ferry boat went ashore. sheltered at the Naval Yard Camber with the kind permission of Commander Penfold, It.N. Many junks were reported sunk or missing. The total number of drowned and missing being 532, of whom 5 are Europeans and one a Japanese. The Secretary of the H.K. & K. Godown Company has written to tender thanks for the services rendered by Inspector Langley and the Water Police.
The crew of the H.M.S. Astroa's Cutier gallantly rescued six Chinese and were assisted ashore by two Officers of the Middlesex Regiment and a Civilian. The Police in the Eastern District did good work under Inspector Fenton. Sergeants Clarke and Devney and P. C. Ogg received some injuries and P. C. Pepperell, in charge of a launch, is suffering from Bronchitis in consequence of the inclement weather. Sergeant Boole, in charge of No. 1 Launch, fell overboard in the Naval Yard Camber owing to the launch heeling over from the impact of another launch, and was pulled up by Seaman 465 Lam Kun Hoi, just in time to avoid being crushed by a launch; this seaman deserves recognition for his prompt action. The Police had the misfortune to lose their Club matshed, which was completely wrecked.
Enclosure 5.
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Botanic Gardens.
◄ Old Gardens.—A large proportion of the big trees damaged, several destroyed. large quantity of shrubs blown out of the ground.
New Gardens. Five large trees including a palm tree blown down.
Blake Garden.
A
Six bauian trees blown down, of which 5 can be raised; one blown into a neighbouring street and killed. Most of the young trees, planted during the last three years, destroyed.
Peak Garden.
Trees and fence damaged.
A few trees down.
West End Park,
Government House Grounds.
The large Poinceana at West of house killed; the two large banians in front of the house wrecked. Several other trees blown down or otherwise damaged.
Garden shrubs much damaged.
Mountain Lodge Grounds.
Colonial Cemetery.
A large quantity (more than 200) of the biggest trees especially pine trees broken off and killed.
Loan Plant Compound.
F. W. LYONS, Captain Superintendent of Police.
away.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT, BOTANCIAL AND FORESTRY
DEPARTMENT.
SI, I bave the honour to make the following preliminary report on the damage done by the typhoon of 27th-28th instant to Government property under my charge.
Buildings.
Superintendent's quarters and quarters at So Kun Po Nursery slightly damaged. Matsheds at West End Park, Kang Hau, Nga lu Tau, Kun Tong and Colonial Cemetery blown down. Plant houses in Gardens: roofs off Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4. End of one hot house blown in, roof of others damaged. Plant houses at Cemetery much damaged.
Gate and part of wall blown down.
Albany Nursery and So Kun Po Nursery.
Stock much damaged.
Glenealy.
Several large pine trees and tree ferns killed, the large Champac tree much damaged.
Bank opposite the Main Entrance of Government House. Large proportion of the big pine trees killed, some tree ferns and smallar trees blown
Street Trees.
About 10 large banian trees blown down of which 4 can be re-erected. About 40 trees of other kinds killed. Caine Road, Albany Road, Albert Road, Garden Road and others were impassable at daylight on the 28th but a path was cleared for traffic by mid-day. The removal of branches and litter is now in hand and making good progress. The Sanitary Department has received instructions to deal with the streets below Bonham Road, Caine Road, Upper Albert Road and Kennedy Road. These roads and the higher ones are being cleared by this department and will probably be finished by this evening. The trees plantel in Kowloon during the last few years are decimated.
Reports on damage to trees in outlying Government plantations are not yet to hand.
I have, &c.,
30th July, 1908.
The Honourable, The Colonial Secretary.
S. T. DUNN,
Superintendent.
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