Kowloon reinforces the former : and both preferences are related to the fundamental fact of the Colony, which must never be lost sight of, that its foremost function is an Entrepot Port.
PART II. GENERAL PROPOSALS FOR DEVELOPMENT.
So
1. The Harbour
One of the first objects of Harbour proposals for townplanning is to obtain more land without impairing the Port. Sir David Owen's report is here a useful guide,* but his recomendations have not all been followed.
On
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The head and sides of Kowloon bay are straightened, on the west as far as Tai Wan on the east to Tan Kalsing, with a boat building yard at May Yau Tong. Hung Hom Bay is reclaimed, leaving only a harbour entrance for Hung Hom. the west of Kowloon Yau Ma Ti Typhoon harbour is filled in, also the rectangular area at Cheung Sha Wan. Extensive reclamations are also possible at Gin Drinkers Bay and Tsun Wan. These combined reclamations on the Kowloon side of the harbour give a very considerable increase of Territory. Much less is possible on Hong Kong Island itself. Starting from the western end, there is a narrow strip at Kennedy Town, the bay from Yaumati Ferry to lurray Road (in front of Chater Road) and the more debateable strip along the front of Connaught Road. There is next the Naval Dock, Causeway Bay, and a narrow strip east of North Point. A small reclamation in Sau Ki Wan bay has also been suggested, but requires further investigation.
Three new Typhoon shelters will be required by these coastal changes : they have been tentatively located (a) at the head of Kowloon Bay(in front of Kai Tak) (b) in front of Sham Shui Po
(c) in front of Causeway Bay(reclaimed), using Kellet Island.
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New Piers are proposed at Kowloon Docks (absorbing the old Coaling Camber) and on the east side of Kowloon Bay at Ngau Tau Kok. The rebuilding of the Connaught Road piers which is due on structural grounds, is debateable, not from the Harbour angle, but by reason of the congestion and mixed zoning in the area behind. It has been contended that much of the coastal trade could be located elsewhere: this requires further investigation. Up to Western Street Godowns, Shops, Hotels and Tenements are completely mixed and almost indistinguishable in building. West of Western Street the Godown and Commercial element predominates. Somewhere on this north coast a Coal depot should be located.
2. Population, size and Grouping.
If the possible population given unlimited land, - is an incalculable quantity, the existing number of inhabitants are sufficiently difficult to oalculate, concentrated on a limited area. It may, however, be assumed that at the beginning of 1948 the population of the Colony was as follows:-
Normal Urban Population of Hong Kong
and Kowloon
Floating Junk and Sampan
New Territories
1,000,000
200,000
300,000
1.500.000
Also of course the development
Report of 1947.
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