CO129-540-7 Dredging of Hong Kong Harbour 26-4-1932 - 1-10-1932 — Page 18

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Hong Kong (1934) Document No.6.

CONFIDENTIAL.

Imperial Shipping Committee,

New Public Offices,

Great George Street,

3.7. 1.

1st October, 1932.

Dredging of Hong Kong Harbour.

Dear Cunliffe-Lister,

(1) The Imperial Shipping Committee have carefully considered the despatch of the Governor of Hong Kong dated 26th April, 1932, which was referred by you to them by your letter of the 16th June (92660/32). The despatch in question showed that there had been a difference of opinion in the Hong Kong Harbour Advisory Committee as to whether a certain area of the harbour lying west of the Kowloon Feninsula should be dredged to a depth of 34 or 36 feet, and the Governor asked for authority to dredge to whichever depth the Imperial Shipping Committee might advise. The area in question is shown on the accompanying chart, being coloured in part blue and in part red and hatched blue. The Committee have decided unanimously to recommend that the dredging should be to a depth of 36 feet, subject to the proviso in paragraph (6) below.

(2) In their investigation of this question the Committee have, as is usual in cases of this nature, had the assistance of distinguished officers of the Admiralty.

(3)

In reaching the conclusion indicated above, the Committee have been influenced by evidence which they have taken to the effect that the greater depth of 36 feet is desirable for the manoeuvring of the larger liners while approaching the piers of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company. The Committee have also had before them the statement of the Admiralty, that the greater depth would be welcomed by them. It is understood that the Godown Company will be responsible for an equivalent deepening immediately in front of their piers.

(4) The Admiralty have informed the Committee that they were contemplating the dredging for their own purposes to depths of from 26 to 32 feet of a portion of the harbour te the north of the area coloured blue on the accompanying chart, through which lies the approach to the laval Coaling Station, and they have suggested that it would be to the obvious advantage, both of the Admiralty and the Hong Kong Fort Authority, if the two dredging propositions were combined and the work undertaken as a single scheme. The Committee have ascertained from the Admiralty that if the Hong Kong Government decide to proceed with their dredging scheme, the Admiralty would ask that they should undertake also the dredging on Admiralty account, it being understood that the Admiralty would be prepared to contribute the cost of the additional dredging undertaken for them.

The Committee would accordingly suggest that the Governor should consult with the local representatives of the

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