CO129-526-7 Proposed vehicle & passenger ferry for Hong Kong Harbour- plans of the development of the... 22-4-1930 - 22-4-1930 — Page 44

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will be advanced sufficiently to let a contract in July 1930 and the scheme would take about two years to complete.

The reconstruction of the piers now in use as passenger piers only would take some one and a half years.

19.

The Executive Council's decision, quoted in

paragraph twelve, while leaving for further consideration

the question of whether the Government should undertake the

building and running of the ferry boats, definitely recommends

that the building of the necessary piers should be undertaken.

by the Government on loan account. The total cost of the

piers, as outlined above, is $1,300,000 which the Director

of Public Works estimates would be distributed as follows:-

1930.....$100,000

1931..... .$650,000

1932.....$550,000

I now seek Your Lordship's authority to proceed with this work, charging it to a future loan and paying for it meanwhile from the surplus balances of the Colony. I am advised that the surplus balances will suffice to meet these charges, in addition to others on account of sanctioned works which they will be called upon to bear, at any rate till the middle of 1931. If Your Lordship approves this proposal, the necessary resolution will be laid before the Legislative Council in due course, and it would facilitate the work if I might be informed of Your Lordship's decision by telegraph.

As Your Lordship is aware, it will be necessary in the comparatively near future to float a loan to pay for the waterworks extensions, and the completion of the aerodrome, and I would propose to add to the purposes of the loan the construction of ferry piers, and, if that course be subsequently approved, the construction of ferry boats. A

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