-
5 -
1.69
!
In my letter of the 20th July, 1911, to the Hon.
Colonial Secretary of Hongkang, I attached a list "marked D" shewing dates of a few of the reports to the Director of Public Works with the nature of such stated; by refer- ence to this list it will be found that, delay, want of labour and materials for the work were continually pointed out by me, and that I advised that other steps should be taken in order to get the work completed.
In addition to the above there have been numerous minutes; the matter has also been referred to in various C.S.0's, etc., etc.
11.
As far back as the year 1905 Mr. Jones, who was the Director of Public Works during Mr. Chatham's absence, threatened Chan a Tong (the son) to determine the contract for the Superstructure unless better progress was made with the work.
Indeed, the delay had been the subject of Public comment as well as adverse criticism in the Legislative Council of Hongkong -
In the meantime the Contractor was allowed to dawdle year after year!
In the year 1909 (during Mr. Chatham's absence from the Colony) active steps were in progress to take certain work out of the Contractor's hands, but this was
vetoed and over-ruled by Mr. Chatham on his return from leave early in the year 1910, and he then introduced a
system of advances to the Contractor, to enable him to
proceed, the result being that the Contractor was again
allowed to dawdle along to June, 1911, and then when he
had obtained all the retention money as well as the
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