5 Extract from Stausend Report 4th Sept 19 30
? put by.
Shiks
8
1500
Abulder
5:11:30
6-11-30 atom
Page
Maxtract from Hansard Report in th Sept 1930
(original
on
42749/30)
(27)
Item 101: Miscellaneous Services:-Contribution towards the cost of building the Seawall, Marine Lots Nos. 430 and 431, $300,000.
HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL.-I should like to declare my interest as an Honorary Director of this Company and I shall therefore abstain from voting.
HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA.-Could this Committee have a little more information explaining the circumstances of this case? It is stated here that in view of the circumstances the Government has decided to re-adjust the terms, but what those circumstances are is not explained in the item.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.-I think we can give all the explanations we have available.
HON. MR. BRAGA.—I should like to know whether the reclama- tion scheme for berthing ocean steamers has been abandoned or not, and if it has been abandoned whether it is on the advice of the Harbour Master or the Harbour Master and the Harbour Board. If no such advice has been taken, can the Committee be informed why it is that the scheme in its original form has been abandoned and apparently a gift of $300,000 is to be made to the Crown Lessee of Marine Lots Nos. 430 and 431.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.-At the time this arrangement was made there was no Harbour Board in existence. Also, the times when the arrangement was made with Mr. Kwik were spacious times and we were expecting to develop very rapidly in other parts of the Colony as well as at North Point. Mr. Kwik had arranged on his own lot to build a wall on a slope, which necessitated piers running out for the berthing of ships. After he began his work and carried it on, nearly to completion, the Govern- ment had in mind the continuation of this development on Mr. Kwik's property and further eastward and intended to make a perpendicular seawall so that ships could lie alongside, and to unify the scheme. They approached Mr. Kwik to alter his seawall to come into line. Mr. Kwik saw the advantages to him if the Government carried out the complete scheme, and he was prepared to do it under the conditions you see in this minute--the advance of a loan of $600,000—~ but the scheme cost him a good deal more. The circumstances of the Colony have altered and the Government are no longer in a position to carry on immediately with the continuation of this perpendicular seawall. Mr. Kwik has reaped certain advantages from having altered his design, but he has lost something by the lack of the continuation of this wall by the Government, and this new arrangement is considered to be a fair adjustment between the two parties.
HON. MR. BRAGA.-But one portion of my question is left unanswered. It is true that the Harbour Board was not then consulted, but the Harbour Board has since come into existence and I take it from the Minute that the decision to abandon the original scheme must have been arrived at after the formation of the Harbour Board.
THE CHAIRMAN.-It is abandoned for the time. We cannot say any more than that. It is impossible for the Government in the present circumstances to continue.
HON. MR. BRAGA.-The unanswered portion of my question is whether the opinion of the Harbour Master has been obtained for the abandonment of the scheme?
THE CHAIRMAN.-At the moment, it is purely a financial question.
HON. MR. PATERSON.-The loan, I take it, is secured on the property?
THE CHAIRMAN.-Yes.
HON. MR. PATERSON.-The answer really means that these three lakhs are inevitable?
THE CHAIRMAN.-Yes, I think it is. It is a fair re-adjust- ment under the new conditions-a perfectly fair arrangement as we did not continue our part of the bargain.
HON. SIR SHOUSON CHOW.--I would like to explain that owing to the change of policy on the part of the Government it cost Mr. Kwik over a million dollars extra to make the perpendicular wall instead of the piers.
THE CHAIRMAN.-Yes, I think that is correct.
72764
Page
age 9
age 9
Pag
Pag
No CONFIDENTIAL (3).
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG
12th June, 1930.
3
10
e 10
17781
07481
26
26
My Lord,
In further continuation of correspondence
dealing with Mr. Kwik Djoen Eng's Reclamation at North Point, which ended with my predecessor's confidential despatch of the 10th of August, 1926,
I have the honour to report that continuous
difficulties have militated against the smooth progress of the development contemplated and to put forward for Your Lordship's approval a solution
which in all the circumstances appears to me
equitable, and to which I understand Mr. Kwik Djoen
Eng is prepared to agree. The solution involves a complete new agreement which will definitely
remove the doubts with which the question is beset,
provided that one half of the loan of $600,000 to
Mr. Kwik, of which the details were set out in Sir Cecil Clementi's despatch No. 88 of the 2nd of March, 1926, together with accrued interest on such
half can be remitted as from the date of the
signature of the agreement contemplated.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LORD PASSFIELD,
&c.,
&c.,
&c.
2.
e 10Page 11
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.