CO129-493 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [6-8] — Page 442

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Hon. Director of Public Works,

With reference to the Secretary of State's

Confidential Despatch dated the 15th April, 1926, I beg to report as follows:-

As the result of an application from a local firm of engineers early in 1920 on behalf of the Robert Dollar Steamship Co. to purchase an aree of about 300,000 square feet east of Marine Lot 321, it was considered necessary to prepare a comprehensive scheme for the development of the foreshore extending from Marine Lot 321 to Quarry Bay. The scheme devised provides for an ordinary reclamation with its seaward limit in the position es shown on plan "A", the reclamation shown coloured brown and red to be protected by a sea wall founded on a rubble mound brought up to the level of Low Water of Ordinary Spring Tides, berthage to be provided by reinforced concrete wharves parallel to the sea. wall, access to the reclamation being given by reinforced concrete gangways placed at intervals apart and spanning the

distance between the wharf and reclamation. In the meantime

the application was extended to purchase a further area of

about 500,000 square feet. The firm conducting these

negotiations did not inform Goverment until almost the date

of sale that their clients, the Robert Dollar Steamship Co.,

had "dropped out" and that in their place speculative

Chinese builders were intent on reclaiming the area and developing it for the construction of Chinese tenement hous

However, the sale of those areas now known as Marine Lots Nos.430 & 431" could not be delayed. Fortunately, the

purchaser was Hr. Kwik Djoen Eng, who also foresen the

possibility of developing the site for shipping.