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December 24th, 1915.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
NEW HARBOUR OF REFUGE !
MEMORIAL STONE OFFICIALLY LAID BY H.E. THE GOVERNOR.
STORY OF A GREAT UNDERTAKING.
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of being very restricted in area and very of a mass of stone, 3,325 feet, or gths of a expensive to construct. Finally, on the mile in length, 182 feet in width at the 4th January, 1908, the Pubhe Works base and 44 feet in height. When we re- Committee, to whom the question had fect that the whole of this enormous mass been referred, agreed unanimously to re- of stone, (about 830,000 tons), has been commend that the Mongkokisui site, where conveyed to the site, junk-load by junk- we now stand, be adopted.
load, and oarefully deposited according As soon as the site had been settled to its size in the various sub-sections of His Excellency the Governor performed upon, the necessary preliminary plans the breakwater, the amount of organiza- the ceremony of laying the Memorial and estimates were prepared and, on the tion required may be to some extent Stone in connection with the new Har 7th March, 1908, a despatch, submitting realised. The area of water enclosed by bour of Refuge at Mongkokteni on Decem the scheme for approval, was forwarded the breakwater is 169 acres and the cost ber 10th in the presence of a consider. to the Secretary of State for the Colonies of the work has been approximately able number of spectators. Among those by Sir Frederick Lugard, a reply by 82,200,000, or, roughly, £200,000, present were Lady May, Miss May, the cable being asked for. The scheme was Colonial Secretary (Hon. Mr. Claud referred by the Secretary of State to
Though no term has as yet occurred to Severn), the Attorney-General (Hon. Mr.
test the efficacy of the new Harbour of Messrs. J. H. Kemp), the Hon, Sir Paul Chater, Consulting Engineers for Colonial pro-
Coode, Son
and Matthews, Keruge it may sately be prediced that C.M.G, the Hon. Mr. W. Chatham,jects of such a nature, and, on the 13th safe place of setter for the thousands of it wil fulfil a purpose by affording a C.M.G., (Director of Public Works), the July, 1006, a telegram was received statsmart craft, which ply our waters. The Hon. Mr. E. R. Halifax, the Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C., the Hon. Mt approving generally of the proposals, render it unngemary for such craft to ing that the Consulting Engineers, whist
ample Areя emelosed should moreover Landale, the Hon. Mr. E. Shellim, Hon. considered some modifications in the Mr. P. H. Holyoak, the Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk design necessary and thought them of their owners to carry on their trade so I seek instant shelter and should enable Hon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Commander Cufficient importance to justify a consul- long as moderate weather continues in W. Beckwith, R. N. (Harbourmaster)tation with the officer who had prepared full confidence that they can obtain shelter Messrs. T. L. Perkins, D. Jaffe, J the scheme. Alter further telegraphic whenever the decessity arises, Duncan, E, W. James, Mr. and Mra, correspondence, the late Mr. Houlton, S. Rouse, Ho Kom Tong, Lo Cheung Shiu who had designed the work, left for Chau Siu Ki, Tong Lai Choun, Tong Yat London on the 15th August, returning on Chuen, La Yui Tong, Leung Hung Shun, the 9th November. Chiu Wan, Kwan Fuk Ng and Lo Tit Hing.
Without waiting for the final adjust The pier at the southern entrance and ment of all questions, the dredging of the platform around the stone were gaily tion for the breakwater was begun on the large treach in order to form a founda- decorated with bunting.
The HON. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS 2nd September, 1906. Dredging operations said-We are assembled here to-day toasted until the end of January, 1810.
The necessary modifications in the mark the completion of one of the largest design, resulting from the conference of sad most important public works ever Mr. Boulton with the Consulting Engine- undertaken in this Colony.
ers were made and, as the final approval Hitherto, the only place of secure refuge for small craft during the fierce of the Secretary of State, including the storing which periodically sweep across approval of the Lords Commissioners of our harbour has been Causeway Bay, the Admiralty, was received on the 28th which was protected by a breakwater in January, 1909, the preparation of the 1883. The area enclosed by that break-detailed drawings and other documents water is 57 acres, the greater part of required in connection with the construe which is, however, dry, or practically so, at extreme low water. The cost of the work was 496,500.
As the time passed by, it became obvious that the requirements of the Port had outgrown the accommodation available, Unless sampang and junks get sail for Causeway Bay as soon as the approach of a storm wae heralded, they were unlikely to gain admission, whilst their early withdrawal, coupled with the fact that they were obliged to remain in shelter until all signs of the storm had disap ucared, gave rise to complaints by the shipping firms that their operations in loading and unloading vessels were un- duly interfered with,
Attention was called to the matter in December, 1903, when Mr. Gershom Ste- wart, M.P., who was then a member of the Legislative Council, brought before Council the following "That, in the opinion of the Council, it is advisabile to increase if possible the means of shelter for cargo boats and sampans during the typhoon season. His resolution was passed unanimously, the Acting-Colonial Secretary stating that the Government were fully aware of the need for such additional accommodation and that only lack of funds had prevent ed steps being taken towards providing it. The demands made upon the revenues of the Colony by other public works of pressing importance-notably waterworks were so great that it was not until 1900 that provision could be made for com- mencing the work.
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should perform the ceremony of laying It is ficting that Your Excellency
this Memoria: stone as it was during Your Excellency's term of office au Officer Administering the Government, in 1810, that the contract with Messrs. Him Tai was entered into.
I now ask you, Sir, to lay this stone and for this arpose I have to hand you this trowel, mallet and spirit-level, which are the gift of the contractors, Messrs. Him Tai. (Applause),
HIB EXCELLESOY then officiated with the silver tools presented him by the Hon.
Mr. Chatham, and declared the stone well and truly laid," amid applause. HIS EXCELLENCY said the only regret ha had that afternoon was that the late Mr. G. C. Boulton tas not there that day. He tion of the breakwater and contingent was an extrarily efficient man, and works was proceeded with, an ordinance the Colony on a great dea] to him, an i authorizing the construction of such most of all for this splendid break-water. works being passed by the Legislative His Excellency wished that he was there Council in November, 1909. The unfor- to see the rest of the work which be de tunate illness of Mr. Boulton, which signed with such capacity and skill. The ended in his retirement from the Service Hon. Mr. Cham had referred, and and ultimately in his death, delayed rightly so, to the good work done by Mr matters considerably, as did also certain Jaffé, who carried out the work, with the negotiations with the lessees of Kowloon assistance of Duncan. He had no Marine Lot, 32, with whom it was con-
opportunity of ing anything about him. sidered advisable to effect a settlement self, so His Excellency would remind his before the contract was let.
lowest.
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On the departure of Mr. Boulton from hearers that the details for the construe- the Colony in April, 1910, the works weretion of the breakwater and the actual can- placed under the charge of Mr. Jaffé and. i struction itself were carried out under in June of that year, tenders were called the supervision of the Hon. Director of As the project was one of very Public Works. I also owe to him," con- for. considerable magnitude and several Eng tinued his Exellency, gratitude for his lish firms had expressed a wish to tender sound advice when the difficult question for its execution, arrangements were made of accepting tenders for this mighty work The lowest to enable them to do so and consequently was under consideration. resolution:-
tender of a European firm was just a trifl, it was not until the 27th October, 1910 that a Contract was entered into with of $1,000,000 over the tender which wa Messrs. Him Tai, whose tender was the accepted, so yes may thank Mr. Chatham that in following his advice we saved the Though grave doubts were expressed by Colony a nice de sum of about £100.000. (Applause) I have always had and I some as to the wisdom of entrusting a contract of such magnitude to a firm of suppose everydy who has had anything local contractors, the action taken has in with them has the greatest con been amply justified. Not only has the adence in the efficacy of Chinamen. This work been completed within the contract mightly breakwer, with its 850,000 tons time (3 years), but, in point of excellenc of stone, is a lasting memorial to the and finish, it will bear comparison with Chinese contener his juakmen, and his coolies. Longe the Chinese colie! any work of a similar kind anywhere. it reflects the greatest credit upon b. Jaffé (Laughter and applause.) This particular and his assistant, Mr. Duncan, who have contractor has ever been trained as an supervised it from start to finish and also upon the Contractors, Messrs. Him engineer, but doing the course of the Tai, who have displayed a praiseworthy werk he made e extraordinarily prac readiness to give effect to suggestions tical suggestions for the expediting of ite made to them for the efficient execution and these suggions were so good that of the work. If further reason for eulogy Mr. Chatham is required, it will be found in the fact them, and ther that the cost of the work has not exceeded especially in the
is another little the contract amount.
mind you of work, and that which was
Meanwhile, the selection of a site for the new Harbour of Refuges matter in which Bir Matthew Nathan took a very keen interest bad been under discussion, the sites considered, in addition to the one finally adopted, being Cheungshawan, Btonecutters Island, Kellett's Bank and Kennedy Town. The last-mentioned site was strongly recommended by the Har- bour Master (Commander Basi! Taylor, R.N.), but it possessed the disadvantages
I will not weary you with figures but it may interest you to know that the breakwater upon which we stand consists
Mr. Jaffé adopted extremely beneficiat, wing of time. Ther
I would like to rg- connection with this that in removing stono lefed on the surrounding
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Private notes are available after approval.