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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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other districts of the Colony, and I doubt whether on this subject the numerous villages in that area and the prosperous market at Saikung would share the views of their representatives in this Coun- cil.
It may be that unofficial members have been alarmed by the magnitude of this work, which is described in papers laid on the table as a circular eastern road, 25 feet wide and 231⁄2 miles in length, costing in all $1,170,000. The work is, however, such that it can be done section by section as fast or as slowly as local requirements and the financial resources of the Colony may prescribe.
At this stage, the Government proposes to do no more than construct the first section of the road from Kowloon City to the village of Ma-yau-tong in the gap overlooking the harbour between Customs Pass and Lyemun. This section is four miles in length and is estimat- ed to cost $200,000. The object of this section of the road is to open up a hill district for the Kowloon peninsula similar to that on Hong Kong island. There is no doubt that the rapid growth of Kowloon as a business centre makes it very important that the hills above the northern side of the harbour, where future commercial develop- ment on a large scale is to be expected, should be made available for residential purposes. So far from being premature, I venture to think that this scheme has been far too long delayed. The Taipo road does not open up any hill district above Kowloon, because it passes through the waterworks' reserve, which is not available for residential purposes. The Castle Peak road runs for the most part over flat country and does not open up any hill district. Therefore, it still remains necessary to-day for any business-man in Kowloon peninsula, who likes to spend his nights in the cool of the hilltops, to reside at the Peak in Hong Kong, whereas he could much more conveniently build his house on the attractive hill-range spreading between Customs Pass and Lyemun.
In connection with this Saikung road, as it has been called, I may say that I should very much have liked to provide in next year's estimates for the construction of another section also, namely that which branches off from the Taipo road near the head of Tide Cove, and crosses to a small promontory at the site of the old Shatin police station. The new road at this point will be a causeway, similar to that with which members of this Council are well acquainted near Taipo; and it will reclaim a very large area of flat land, eminently suitable for recreation purposes. This area could be approached, not only by the Taipo road, but also by the railway, which already has a station at Shatin. It would, therefore, be easily and cheaply accessible to Kowloon residents, and it is here that large recreation grounds could be formed, including the golf links, for which the Chinese community is pressing. Nothing would have pleased me better than to include a sum in next year's estimates for this section of the work; but, unfortunately, funds are not now available, and all that the Government presses for at the moment is the construction of the section above Kowloon, which will open up a hill district on the mainland, and for a sum of $5,000 to be voted by way of supple- ment this year for forming a permanent trace of the whole road, as projected. It is most desirable, of course, that the trace should
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