CO129-540-7 Dredging of Hong Kong Harbour 26-4-1932 - 1-10-1932 — Page 85

Treasury Chambers,

Whitehall, S.W.

84

fact that the Government would not undertake to dredge

to 36 feet, and who are now forcing the hands of the

Government.

I therefore said that while I did not demur

to the view that it might be worth while to go to 36 feet,

it seemed to me that if the Hong Kong revenues are not

able to finance the work without difficulty, the additional

cost of going to 36 feet as compared with 34 feet, (or at

least part of it), should be got out of the Godown Company.

The Chairman however ruled that this was not a matter

for the Imperial Shipping Committee, and he is going to

circulate a draft reply to the Colonial Office on the whole

question.

I do not know how the Hong Kong finances

stand at the moment. The cost of the work would appear

Hayk to be in the neighbourhood of 1,100,000 dollars, and this

may be reduced by the additional requirements to be

financed by the Admiralty.

Taking this as the figure,

and assuming that the money is to be repaid within five

years, the annual charge would work out at about

250,000 dollars a year. It seems to me a question for