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of some £75,000 on harbour dredging is called for and is the
most urgent improvement in the harbour.
The
5. The dredging scheme is divided into three parts.
first is for the removal of the Belcher Ridge and Rambler and
Penguin Shoals. We have no hesitation in urging the removal
of these shoals, for that is an element in every scheme for
the improvement of the harbour which has been brought before
us.
Unfortunately, this is a very small part of what it is
proposed to do. The estimate is that it would entail the
removal of some 30,000 subic yards of material out of a total
of some 2,000,000 cubic yards. The other two parts of the
scheme involve more problematical considerations. It is
proposed to deepen the water immediately west of the Kowloom
Point, that is to say, in front of the wharf and jetties owned
by the Kowloon sharf and Godown Company. Whether the removal
of material from the bottom in this neighbourhood can be
ffected without interfering with the foundations of the
Jetties we do not know. in the other hand, it may be that
something could be charged to the company in question for
the improvement of their property.
6. The third part of the scheme as expressed in the
Governor's telegram is not very clear, but we take it that
what is contemplated is a prolongation of the 3ulphur Channel
into the fairway of Hong Kong Harbour. No doubt such
prolongation, if it can be permanently accomplished, would
be of advantage, but we note that the chief result hoped for
is the deepening of the harbour by the increased scour of the
abb tide through this channel. It is notorious that expenditure
with a view to indirect results of this kind are of a very
speculative nature even when undertaken on the beat advice
both of engineers and pilots.
7. It is difficult, therefore, to give a confident opinion
to the Secretary of state, and we doubt whether even an eminent
firm of consulting engineers would be able to any certainly
whether /
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