CO129-542-3 Foreshore and Sea-bed Works Bill- correspondence 9-1-1933 - 16-8-1933 — Page 127

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Enclosures to Chamber of Commerce letter to the Government, dated 10th December, 1932.

Letter from the Hong Kong Electric Co. Ltd. to the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.

127

COPY

The Secretary,

The Hong Kong Electric Co. Ltd.

P. & O. Building,

Hong Kong:

1st December, 1932.

Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.

HỒNG KÔNG.

Dear Sir,

Foreshores & Sea Bed Ordinance No. 26 of 1932. Proposed Foreshore & Sea Bed Works Ordinance of 1932.

We understand the Chamber is considering the above-mentioned proposed Ordinance and we would like to call attention to the position of our North Point Generating Station M.L.321, should the proposed Ordinance become law.

The site on which the present station stands was purchased from Government in 1914 and was reclaimed by ourselves, and we hold clean title deeds covering same. The whole point in choosing the present site was to obtain marine access for the landing of coal, machinery, stores, etc., and also for an inlet pipe by which sea water is conveyed into the station for the pur- pose of running the machinery.

Many millions of dollars have been invested in the land, buildings and machinery on the security previously attaching to a clean title, but if the proposed Bill becomes law those rights may vanish. We are quite aware the Bill in question contains pro- vision for the payment of compensation to property owners, but no compensation could adequately recompense us for the perpetual loss of efficiency in operating North Point Station, quite apart from the loss in market value consequent upon termination of marine rights.

We feel the proposed Bill definitely threatens title holders' inherent rights and on those grounds alone we think justification is provided for protest by the Chamber against the Bill.

For your information, we would advise that in view of our position as a public utility concern and the fact that the efficient operation of North Point Generating Station is a matter of great public interest, we instructed our solicitors to apply for exemption of M. L. 321 from the operations of the above mentioned Ordinances, but this has been refused by Government on the grounds that the Ordinances provide for payment of compensation.

We are, dear Sir,

Yours faithfully,

Per pro

GIBB, LIVINGSTON & CO.LD. (Sgd) L. J. DAVIES.

Agents.