CO129-549-3 Gas explosion disaster 15-5-1934 - 10-1-1935 — Page 12

0.3.

Telegrams-

'Localise, Parl, London." Telephone-Whitehall 4300.

Please address any further communication on this subject

to-

The Secretary.

NATIONA

SCHEME

招牌老

FOR DIS

DISABLED

MEN

Please quote the following reference-

96034/3/1.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH,

12

Њ

WHITEHALL,

W1.

14

January,

1935.

что

(10)

(14) (1)

to H. Kong

верод

Sir,

RECEIVED

5 JAN 1936

REGY

3.

With reference to your letter of the

22nd November last (33804/34), forwarding a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong, I am directed by the Minister of Health to state that he has seen a copy of the letter of the 22nd ultimo and its accompanying memorandum which Secretary Sir John Gilmour has caused to be sent in reply to your letter, and to inform you that he is in substantial agreement with the memorandum.

I am, however, to add, for the consideration of Secretary Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, that the Minister is advised that the regular inspection of the external structure of gas holders is desirable. The corrosion of gas holder plates almost invariably takes place from outside, and careful external examination discloses the deterioration. The carrying out of this external examination should not present any great difficulty.

I am further to add, with reference to the last paragraph of the Governor's despatch, that experience in this country has shown that there is no objection to the placing of gas holders near to other buildings, provided the works are properly maintained. It may be, however, that the climatic conditions in Hong Kong, by increasing the risk of deterioration from outside, render this practice undesirable.

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

S.W.1.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

H. S. Hunter.