CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4] — Page 149

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Minute for Legislative Council in support of Financiaì

Minute for $400,000.432,618.28

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APR 12

The question of the site for the Terminal Station,

Kowloon-Canton Railway is one which has occupied the attention

of Government for the past 3 years. It was a very difficult and

complicated one for the following reasons:-

(a). Because it was essential that a Ferry Service should

be inaugurated, which should bring passengers if possible close

to the Station so as not to have to transport their goods &c.

(especially in bad weather) for any distance. If the Railway

could not offer every facility it could not hope to compete

against steamers. Mr. Lindsey strongly advocated that the

station should be at Hunghom. He thought the (then) alternative

on the acquired sites north of Salisbury Road too restricted.

Consequently stipulations were made concerning a ferry service

to Hunghom at the time that the Pier at Victoria was leased to

the Star Ferry Company

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(b). Because of the question of sidings, especially the

siding to the Wharf and Godown Company. It was felt that co-

operation with this Company would add to railway freights, while

the reverse would compel them to compete by water transport.

(c). By the great cost of land, and the fact that almost

all of it was already in occupation at the south end of the

peninsula.

I will not here go into details about the sites

acquired by Government north of Salisbury Road, or the arguments

and

for against, &c. I had at an early stage suggested that the

best site would be the Marine Lots at the south end of the

Peninsula, but I was told that they could not be acquired

except at a prohibitive cost.

The owners, however, together with the Wharf and Godown Company and the Star Ferry all of whom were deeply inter- ested finally came forward with an offer to exchange all the

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