1
A
Yo
38304
Goz Y
57431
659
from the native omers which cannot now be developed with-
out a road, The road would also benefit development in
Kowloon and especially the large scheme of reclamation in
Kowloon Bay approved by your telegram of the 30th December,
1915, The Chinese have shown a marked predilection for
the use of motor cars and the existence of a circular road
from Kowloon through the picturesque valleys in the New
Territory which the proposed road will effect, would be
a great attraction to Chinese residents in Kowloon. The
proposed road therefore is not in the nature of a luxury.
It is designed to assist development of an area which with-
out the means of communication must remain derelict; and
to attract to permanent residence in this Colony Chinese
of the wealthier class.
On these grounds I am strongly of the
opinion that it should take precedence of the items IV and
V in paragraph 5 of my despatch above referred to, and
approved in Hr. Harcourt's despatch No.276 of the 22nd
October in the same year, and I trust that you will see
your way to sanction the expenditure. The total length of
the road will be about 17 miles and its cost so far as can
at present be calculated will be about $350,000.
As regards item 3 I would observe that it
has not been possible to make an estimate of the total
cost of the building. A building had been designed to cost £35,000 but owing to the large extension of the Department
due to the institution of the system of permits for exports
and imports, the keeping of statistics of exports and imports and the taxing of tobacco it is now necessary to revise the design and to provide for a considerably larger building, the plans and estimate for which will be sent to
you in due course.
Item 8(b) is in pursuance of the policy of
improving the old road from Victoria via Aberdeen, Stanley
Shaukivan
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.