[ { "id": 301230, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-179 - Governor Hennessy - 1877 [9-12]", "page_number": 358, "title": "CO129-179 - Governor Hennessy - 1877 [9-12]", "content_text": "Spring Tides.\n\n5. The site recommended for the structure happens to be sheltered from the South East (the dangerous quarter during typhoons) by the hill-range that skirts the Bay from the Kin Gas Supply. Yam Temple in the direction of Whitfield Police Station. The Eastern half of the breakwater in fact will have complete immunity from the North-lash while the western half will be exposed to it at a very oblique angle, so as to greatly increase its power of resistance.\n\n6. Owing to this favourable circumstance, I think as small a formation width as fifteen feet at the top, and as low a formation level as nine feet above Spring Tides may be safely ventured on.\n\n7. The breakwater will be of rough unhewn blocks of granite weighing from three quarters of a ton to two tons, tipped from a temporary staging built out quarried with a tramway from the Government quarries as far as point B (See plan). From this point as far as A, rails will continue from time to time to be laid upon the solid structure itself as it gradually rises to formation level, and when the whole is completed, the timber staging will be removed, leaving a clear passage of 18 yards to form the Eastern half.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-179 - Governor Hennessy - 1877 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 311407, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-197 - Governor Hennessy - 1882 [1-2]", "page_number": 428, "title": "CO129-197 - Governor Hennessy - 1882 [1-2]", "content_text": "# Narrative on the Prosperity of Hong Kong\n\nThe narrative shows what is called land speculation; on the contrary, it shows that the commercial wants of the Colony have been increasing, that the necessity of providing more godowns has been felt by the merchants, and that our manufactures are increasing. You will notice, and I am happy to notice, that not only has there been an increase of enterprise and prosperity on the part of the foreign community, but also on the part of the Chinese.\n\nSome time ago, I observed, in referring to the progress of India, that the Secretary of State for India, Lord Hartington, looked forward to the time when certain public works in India would be undertaken by private enterprise. When you consider what is done by the Survey Department in this Colony, you cannot but notice how small the amount really is which we lay out in public works as compared with what may be done by private enterprise and capital when the Colony is really prosperous.\n\nSir Hercules Robinson entertained the scheme of forming a Praya Wall at Kowloon and wharves running from it out into deep water so that steamers and ships could go alongside. The expense was considerable. The scheme was contemplated by the Government, but it was felt the time had not come for the Government to undertake it. Now it is being undertaken, not by the Government, but by private enterprise, and I am sure you will agree with me that nothing can be more healthy, as a sign of our prosperity, than that works of this kind should be undertaken, not by the Survey Department but by private enterprise.\n\nThe Government could hardly afford to lay out a million dollars on a work of that kind. Of course, the sugar refinery to which I have referred is one that belongs to the domain of private enterprise. But it is manifest that whatever you may say with respect to the prosperity of the Colony as shown by the revenue returns, by the general commercial activity of the Colony, by the fortunate position of the Colony with regard to the diminution of crime and the greater comfort and ease of everyone as regards the protection of life and property - whatever indications of prosperity may be seen, it is also one that deserves congratulation that, in the history of Hong Kong, there never was a time when there was more enterprise among all classes of the community, Europeans as well as Chinese.\n\nAnd there is one class of enterprise, an intellectual enterprise, to which I have great pleasure in referring. I myself have the honour of belonging to the Inns of Court in London. I passed an examination in Lincoln's Inn. Some of my learned friends who are present know that at those examinations there are young men from Oxford and Cambridge, London University, and King's College, and the great competition is for the studentships or scholarships given at Lincoln's Inn. Last year, a young man born under the British flag in this Colony succeeded at that examination in defeating his competitors from Oxford and Cambridge, from London University, and from the Scotch and Irish Universities, and in three of the subjects of examination, he obtained first place. That is Mr. Ho Kai, a gentleman born in this Colony. I think it is a matter we may all congratulate ourselves upon, and that young gentleman, who has been called to the bar, will arrive, I think, this month in the Colony, and I am sure you will all join with me in welcoming him.\n\nMy attention has been called by the Chinese inhabitants of the Colony to one or two things in which they are especially interested, and I have had under my consideration a scheme they have put before me by which wealthy Chinese in this Colony might have an opportunity afforded them of putting aside a certain portion of the money they make, investing it in such a way as to benefit their descendants and also to benefit the Colony. I may briefly say it is a system of forming a species of trust property which may be administered by a certain number of the Chinese community, perhaps those who under one of our Ordinances conduct the affairs of the Tung Wah Hospital, and to that body of Chinese will be given from time to time considerable sums by wealthy Chinese which will be invested by them, a certain portion, say seven-tenths, to be appropriated so as to benefit the descendants of the donors by giving them education, and in other ways, the remaining three-tenths to be devoted to the public interests of the Colony in general.\n\nA scheme of that kind, carefully elaborated, has been recommended to me by what I am justified in describing as the Chinese community of the Colony. They have put it before me. I am disposed to give it the most favourable consideration, and I mention it now with satisfaction because it is a further indication of the real progress of Hong Kong. As long as these gentlemen, who, as you know, now represent the wealthiest ratepayers in the community, as long as they desire to establish themselves and their descendants in the Colony for ever, so long we have a guarantee for loyalty and good order.\n\nOn the whole, gentlemen, in opening the Legislative session for 1882, I think we can all look forward, without anxiety, not only to the present year, but to the continued prosperity of the Colony.\n\n## Legislative Session Proceedings\n\nHon. F. B. Johnson - Will your Excellency inform me if I shall now be in order?\n\nHis EXCELLENCY - No. We must adhere to the Order Book.\n\n### Opium Ordinance\n\nHis EXCELLENCY moved the first reading of \"An Ordinance to Amend the Opium Ordinance No. 2 of 1858.\" He explained that it was introduced by direction of the Secretary of State, its object being the protection of prepared opium in transitu through the Colony.\n\n### Vehicles Ordinance\n\nHis EXCELLENCY moved the first reading of \"An Ordinance to amend the Vehicles Ordinance, No. 6 of 1863.\"\n\n### Naturalization\n\nHis EXCELLENCY moved the first reading of Bills for the naturalization of Lai Shun Ting, Chan Teng Cho, Ng Li Hung, Yau Chong Peng, and Chan Man Wing.\n\nThe ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER said he trusted that before these Ordinances were passed, schedules would be attached describing who the gentlemen were to whom they referred. In other cases, it had been merely the naturalization of a name. In Dr. Eitel's case, they knew who was intended from the preamble, but with regard to the other bills which had been passed, he had in his employ some gentlemen who might claim them, as their names corresponded with the naturalization Ordinances, and there was nothing to show who was naturalized.\n\nHis EXCELLENCY said he thought the suggestion a good one.\n\nThe ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the form adopted with reference to the Ordinance was one adopted in another Colony where it had been in force for years, one of the few Colonies in which it was necessary to proceed by legislation in cases of individual naturalization, and it was a form which, as His Excellency was aware, had received the assent of Her Majesty's Government, and although there might be a schedule, he did not think it would be at all proper to attach such a schedule.\n\nHis EXCELLENCY said that although it might not be necessary to attach such a schedule, he thought the information asked for might be given.\n\nThe ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER said the description might be given in the preamble.\n\nHon. Ng Choy said the age should certainly be given.\n\nThe Bills were read a first time.\n\n### Tramway Bill\n\nThe ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE, Chairman of the Special Committee on the Tramway Bill, presented the report of the Committee.\n\nHon. E. R. Belilios - There is a small matter which requires consideration. It has occurred to me, and I should fail in my duty if I omitted to mention it. I stated it at our Committee meetings, but was directed by my honourable friend the Chairman to bring it forward at this assembly. We are all aware that hitherto, whenever it has been found necessary to improve thoroughfares, the level of the roads has been raised at the discretion of the Surveyor-General. At the examination of this officer at a meeting of the Tramways Bill Committee, it was elicited that in certain cases when roads happened to have been higher than the pavement of houses on either side, and when it was so desired by the owners, the compounds of such houses were raised equally with the new roads, but the Surveyor-General told us that no compensation was demanded and none was granted. I say it is fortunate for the taxpayers that no such questions have been raised as yet, because in the case of houses so affected, claims...\n\nPage 427", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-197 - Governor Hennessy - 1882 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 320464, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-206 - Public Offices & Others - 1882", "page_number": 428, "title": "CO129-206 - Public Offices & Others - 1882", "content_text": "422 \n\nand other large Cities of India, where instead of perishable wooden longitudinal sleepers and cross hes, iron chairs are employed. These are bedded on Concrete and are made to afford the rails continuous support by means of a longitudinal cast iron bearer, extending from chair to chair. An iron permanent way would, no doubt, cost more than the ordinary wooden form of structure used in this country, but it would in the end be more economical in the reduced cost of upkeep that would follow, and it would be a great relief to the public to be freed from the annoying obstructions consequent on the constant repairs to a cheap form of permanent way.\n\nIn imposing any condition on the promoters on this point, it is however only fair to state that there is no statutory requirement as to excellence of construction, nor any specification of design or materials, on the part of the Board of Trade. When a tramway is completed it is inspected by a representation of that Board whose duties are limited to seeing that the rails have been laid level and to gauge, that the height of the paving corresponds with the height of the rail, and that all facing points and crossings have been laid in proper form and level.\n\nThe inspection is a surface one. Local authorities have complained about the badness of the work, when the Government Inspector would in all probability have the paving removed and the substructure dug up for examination. That the law leaves...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-206 - Public Offices & Others - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 320535, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-206 - Public Offices & Others - 1882", "page_number": 499, "title": "CO129-206 - Public Offices & Others - 1882", "content_text": "## following most necessary addition: \"And if the Surveyor General hereafter alter the level of any road along or across which any of the tramways is laid or authorised to be laid, the Tramway Company shall from time to time alter or (as the case may be) lay their rails so that the uppermost surface thereof shall be on a level with the surface of the road as altered.\"\n\nSection 20. From the fourteenth and the seventeenth lines omit the words \"reasonable\", and \"reasonably\" respectively.\n\n## Section 22\n\nThis section appears to me as it is indecorous. It proposes to set up any private Engineer practising in the place as a court of appeal from the decisions of the Surveyor General on questions wholly professional. The decisions of the Surveyor General of the Colony on professional points and in matters concerning the safety of the public traffic should be final and conclusive, and not subjected to revision by other Engineers practising locally. Redress can be obtained against the acts and decisions of the Surveyor General as against those of any public officer by a representation to the Governor or the Governor in Council, and as it is obvious that disputes arising between the Tramway Company and other Company are best settled in a court of law, I have to recommend the omission of this Section in toto.\n\n## Section 23\nIn line 3, substitute the words \"Officer duly appointed\" by the words \"Surveyor General\". If the Surveyor General is to have the responsibility of seeing that the tramways are to be maintained by the Company in due repair, he obviously, and no other, should be the officer to inspect them in the first instance. By the term \"Surveyor General\" I mean of course the officer acting for the time being as Surveyor General.\n\n## Section 25 \nis a copy of the Section 41 of the Imperial Tramways Act of 1870 (33 and 34 Vic. Cap 78) but I see no provision in the Ordinance against the insolvency of the Company similar to the provisions in Section 42 of the Imperial Act just mentioned. I would therefore suggest the insertion of a clause to follow after Section 25 in these terms: \"If at any time after the opening of any tramway it appears to the Governor in Council that the Company is insolvent so that they are unable to maintain such tramway, or work the same with advantage to the public, the Governor in Council may direct an inquiry by a referee or referees into the financial affairs of the Company, and if the referee or referees shall find that the Company are so insolvent as aforesaid, the Governor in Council may by order declare that the powers of the Company shall at the expiration of six calendar months from the making of the order be at an end, and the powers of the Company shall cease and determine at the expiration of the said period unless the same are purchased or leased in manner provided by this Ordinance.\"", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-206 - Public Offices & Others - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 334121, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-232 - Acting Governor Marsh Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [4-5]", "page_number": 405, "title": "CO129-232 - Acting Governor Marsh Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [4-5]", "content_text": "10. The portion tinted green is at present, during the hours of low water, an objectionable foreshore extending out over 300 feet. The original reclamation project of 1883 had comprised this foreshore in the area to be filled in, but the great cost involved ultimately led to the curtailment of the project and only the land shown, tinted red, has been filled in.\n\n11. It is also recommended that the area already reclaimed (coloured red) be raised in the form of a slope to an additional height averaging three feet throughout, with a view to keeping the proposed new sewers and house drains well above sea-level and in order to give them a gradient or fall towards the sea, sufficient to impart due velocity to the flow of sewage along the main drainage arteries shown in blue lines on the plan.\n\n12. The sewerage of the new district could not be emptied into Causeway Bay for in this circumscribed corner of the harbour there are no tidal currents capable of carrying the noxious effluents out to sea. The contents of all main drains must therefore be gathered into one intercepting sewer and taken along the Shaukiwán Road in the direction of North Point and there emptied into the tidal current.\n\n13. In order to reduce the size and cost of these main sewers and of the general intercepting sewer, it is not intended to lead any storm waters into them. Rain drainage may be allowed to escape into Causeway Bay.\n\n14. It is doubtful whether Causeway Bay lots would be taken up, in any great number, unless this distant suburb is brought into cheap and speedy communication with the City. To meet the contingency a tramway is proposed as essential to the success of the scheme. I would have advocated the laying of a tramway from Whitfield Station to Kennedy town had the junction of the Praya along the water frontage of the Military Cantonments and Naval Yard been an accomplished fact, but in view of the uncertainty of this work being carried out at once, I limit myself for the present to the recommendation of a line from Whitfield Station along the Praya to a terminal point at the corner of the Blue Buildings. When the Praya junction is completed the tramway can be extended to Kennedy town.\n\n15. The proposed new township will be intersected by streets sixty feet wide and the Chinese system of back-to-back houses will be rendered impossible by the interposition of ten feet lanes between each row of houses. The allotments will be 15 feet wide by 60 feet deep, these being the favourite dimensions of the native house builder. Each allotment will hold therefore only one house. Assessed for premium at the prices obtained at the recent auction sale of similar lots adjoining Whitfield Station, the 1,200 lots may realize an average of 20 cents a square foot or $180 per lot, and the total to be derived from premiums will therefore be $216,000.\n\n16. Based on the Crown rents of the Whitfield Station lots, i.e. $125 per quarter acre, the 1,200 allotments representing as before stated an area of 274 acres will bring in to the Colonial Treasury an annual revenue of $13,750.\n\n17. It is estimated that the rates and taxes on the 1,200 new houses will come to about $20,625 bringing the total annual receipts up to $34,375. The purchase money i.e. $216,000 together with the first year's annual rents and taxes would therefore amount in all to $250,375.\n\n18. The cost of filling in that portion of the ground which is shown, tinted green, on the plan will be $70,000. The cost of a sea-wall along the sea-frontage is estimated at $35,000 while the cost of raising by another three feet the present reclamation shown tinted red will be $20,000. The main sewers and intercepting sewer are estimated at $90,000 and the formation of the new streets at $20,000. The total outlay on reclamation and sewerage works will thus amount to $285,000. In general terms and allowing a wide margin for unforeseen contingencies it may be assumed that the amount to be received in premiums when all the lots are sold, plus the first year's annual Crown rents and the house rates leviable will balance the prime cost of the works.\n\n19. With regard to the tramway from Whitfield Station to the Blue Buildings I hope shortly to submit estimates of cost of construction, maintenance and working. It is open to doubt however whether the cost of the tramway could equitably be debited to the reclamation project inasmuch as the line would be a municipal improvement of benefit to the entire general public and not of benefit solely to Causeway Bay.\n\n20. But even if the tramway is not chargeable to the Causeway Bay project, I am none the less of opinion that its construction might legitimately be defrayed from the Fund to be derived from land sales, since its realization would tend more than anything to improve the value of all private leasehold estate and of all Crown lands from Shaukiwán to Wautsai. If well and substantially built and managed by competent hands, the tramway should not only pay for itself but should yield a moderate profit to Government while to the working classes, provided the fares are kept at the lowest standard, it will prove an inestimable boon.\n\n21. It is not impossible His Excellency the Acting Governor may be told that nobody will build at Causeway Bay, and that if landlords do build in that locality, no tenants will be found to occupy the new houses, notwithstanding the advantages of a tramway. There might be some ground for these fears if it were the intention of Government to take no steps to abate overcrowding, but as the Government will not continue an unmoved spectator of the dangerous massing of the people in the houses of the Central districts of Victoria and as a large number of crowded tenements in these districts will each in its turn be compelled by law to disgorge a large proportion of its inmates, there will be no alternative left for the people but to build more habitations. There are no sites for houses in the centre of the town, and it follows therefore that the inhabitants must gravitate towards the suburbs.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir,\n\nYour obedient Servant,\n\nJ. M. PRICE,\n\nSurveyor General,\n\n398", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-232 - Acting Governor Marsh Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [4-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 339479, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-242 - Governor Des Voeus Acting Governor Stewart - 1889 [8-12]", "page_number": 70, "title": "CO129-242 - Governor Des Voeus Acting Governor Stewart - 1889 [8-12]", "content_text": "69 \n\n17. Although more or less damage occurred in almost every street and road in the Colony, the chief scenes of disaster were (1) the Albany Nullah, from its commencement downwards (2) the Glenealy Nullah (marked respectively A. and B. on plan) and (3) the heavy landslips which, having their origin in the steep slopes above the Tytam Aqueduct, swept down the mountain side, carrying away the masonry of the Aqueduct itself in three places. In the case of the heaviest of these slips, the torrent carried the debris straight through the Public Cemetery, and landed the greater part on the race-course in the Happy Valley below. I propose in the first place to describe these principal accidents with some amount of detail, and for further particulars, and a full description of damage outside the City and in Kowloon, I beg to refer to Mr. COOPER's reports.\n\n## Damage in the Albany or Military Nullah\n\n18. I have already alluded to the very serious damage which occurred on the morning of the 29th May to the service tank and filter beds of the Tytam Waterworks, situated at C. on plan. On further investigation, the cause was obvious. Excavations on a large scale were carried on during the past year in preparing a site for a house on the summit of the ridge above the service tank (at D. on plan, Rural Building Lot No. 7). A large portion of the debris was deposited on a very steep slope immediately below the house. On the morning of the 29th (I am informed at 11:40 A.M.), a great mass of this spoil bank, amounting at the lowest estimate to 10,000 tons, became detached and was precipitated down the ravine. This mass started from an elevation of about 1,400 feet above sea level and must have travelled with fearful velocity down slopes varying from 1 to 1, to 3 to 1, until its course was arrested by the obstruction formed by the service tank, which had been constructed across the bed of the valley, a passage for storm water being provided by means of a great culvert or tunnel carried under the bed of the reservoir or service tank. The distance traversed horizontally by the avalanche before its course was arrested was about 2,200 feet; the fall vertically was about 1,000 feet. It naturally swept everything before it, clearing a passage through pine woods and scrub, from 150 to 200 feet in width, and leaving the hill side, previously covered with luxuriant vegetation, as bare as a ploughed field. Huge boulders strewn in the bed of the nullahs and on the mountain side were swept down, and it was one of these, measuring 350 cubic feet and weighing about 25 tons, which effectually blocked the tunnel mouth.\n\n19. At about one-third of its downward course, the path of the avalanche crossed the line of the tramway which connects the City with the Peak district. The tramway, including two bridges and other works, was swept clean away for a length of about 100 yards, and the rails and girders were twisted and contorted in a very remarkable manner. The cars could only have completed their last journey a few minutes before the catastrophe occurred. The greater part of the ironwork was subsequently recovered from the debris lodged on the upstream side of the service tank. Photograph No. 1 gives some idea of the course of the avalanche.\n\n20. At the service tank itself, this vast mass of rocks and earth first filled up the bed of the valley above the tank to the level of some 20 feet above the coping. It would then appear that the rush of water down the nullah burst this temporary obstruction and caused a great wave to sweep over the service tank and some of the filter beds. To this great and sudden rush of water may be attributed much of the damage sustained by the Bowen and Garden Roads and the earthen embankment outside the masonry walls on the downstream side of the tank and filter beds.\n\n21. The yet heavier rainfall during the night and early morning of the 30th caused a very heavy rush of water across the service tank and over the wall on the north or downstream side, which had now to serve as an overfall or weir, a purpose for which it is hardly necessary to observe it was not designed. This great flood brought down with it enormous quantities of sand and other material. During the 29th and 30th, about 18,000 cubic yards of earth were washed away from the slopes of the service tank and filter beds, and probably an equal quantity from the banks of the nullah below the tank, the bed of which has in consequence been greatly enlarged. The rush of water also carried away the bridge over the nullah on the Kennedy Road. During the night of the 29th and 30th, a formidable slip had occurred in the lower part of the nullah. A mass of earth fell from the cliff at the northwest angle of the Head Quarter House onto the open space east of the Officer's quarters at the Murray Barracks (at E. on plan). This dammed the valley; the large open masonry conduit, 22 feet wide and 12 feet deep, was filled up, and the flood of water carrying mud and sand spread along the Queen's Road right and left, flooding the ground floors of the barrack rooms and leaving a solid deposit, consisting chiefly of clean quartz sand, on the roads and barrack yards adjoining, to a depth of from two to four feet. From 15,000 to 20,000 cubic yards of debris were here deposited, and a far larger quantity was carried into the Harbour and formed a formidable bank at the mouth of the nullah. The effects of the flood in the neighbourhood of the Murray Barracks are shown in Photograph No. 3.\n\n* Photograph No. 2 shows damage below service tank.\n\n## Damage in the Glenealy Nullah\n\n22. The water of this nullah discharges into the Harbour 700 yards west of the mouth of the Albany Nullah. It is a natural ravine down to the point marked B. on plan. From this point, the water is carried to the sea through a masonry culvert varying in sectional area from 12 to 26 square feet. This culvert passes down Wyndham and Pedder's Streets, of which it forms the main drain. The gradients are very rapid; the fall from the upper end of the culvert to the Clock Tower being 200 feet in a horizontal distance of 1,400 feet, average gradient 1 in 7. The first damage which was reported during the storm occurred to this culvert. The volume of water on the morning of the 29th being greater than could be discharged through the culvert, the hydraulic pressure blew up the crown of the arch in several places. Large quantities of debris were deposited in Queen's Road and Pedder's Street, and the ground floor of several buildings was flooded. But during the greater downpour in the early morning of the 30th, some heavy landslips occurred in the ravine just above the upper end of the culvert. These dammed up the flood waters in the valley until their accumulated force broke through the temporary barrier, and they swept down towards the sea, damaging the culvert more or less throughout its whole length. Huge stones of all sizes up to a ton were transported by the force of the water to the level portion of the culvert in Pedder's Street, where, owing to want of fall, the heavier masses of the debris were arrested, thus effectually blocking the drain, so that the water had to be discharged along the surface of the streets. Stones of at least a ton weight were lifted about 10 feet from the bed of the culvert and deposited on the side path in Pedder's Street. The valley above the bridge on the Caine Road at F. on plan, which had been terraced and laid out with great taste by my predecessor as a public garden, was completely wrecked, and trees, shrubs, flower beds, flights of granite steps, and entrance gates were swept clean away. In the road at G. on plan, the bursting of the drain formed a huge hole in the centre of the roadway, 55 feet in diameter and 19 feet deep. Photographs Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7 show the destruction wrought by the flood along the line of the Glenealy drain. During the night, a portion of the Glenealy flood water forced a new channel for itself down Zetland Street into the Queen's Road at H. on plan, where its onward course was blocked by the houses on the north side of the road. A considerable deposit of sand was here formed, and the neighbouring premises were flooded.\n\n23. On the 29th, when the first damage occurred to the Glenealy drain, it was evident that the culvert was completely blocked for a considerable length by the debris of rocks and building material. As the removal of these obstructions must necessarily occupy a considerable time, my first care was to make such temporary provision for the passage of storm waters along the surface of the streets as to prevent, if possible, any further damage to neighbouring buildings by flooding. This was effected by forming protecting banks of stone on either side of the stream. I was not free from anxiety as to the effect a further heavy rush of water down such steep declivities might have on the foundation of the houses. In Zetland Street, the torrent tore up the roadway and ploughed up the bottom to a depth of 5 or 6 feet in a very short space of time. Instructions were given accordingly to watch the line of the Glenealy torrent night and day, and arrangements were made that should serious damage threaten the buildings in one street, to divert the flood in another direction or to divide it, and thus minimize its destructive action.\n\n24. Owing to the precautions taken, no further injury occurred through the flooding of the basements of buildings in this locality, and although some dissatisfaction was expressed at the length of time the debris was allowed to remain in some of the streets, it is obvious that the slight inconvenience arising from this cause was as nothing to the serious consequences that must have resulted had the banks been removed before the culvert was completely cleared. This was effected, and the debris removed from Pedder's Street and Queen's Road on 26th June.\n\n25. In connection with the flood in the Glenealy Nullah, I should explain that it was found on examination that the quantity of water coming down this ravine was considerably augmented owing to the works in progress in connection with building operations on Building Lots 1146 and 1147 at J. on plan. A catch-water drain had been constructed many years ago along the line marked J.K. on plan to divert the water from the upper slopes, which would naturally find its way down the Glenealy Nullah, into the Albany Nullah. But during the progress of the building operations referred to and the construction of an aqueduct to take the place of the original open drain, which traversed the site sold as building lots, it was found impossible to carry the intercepted water into the Albany Nullah, and it therefore had, previous to the storm, been diverted into its original discharging channel, i.e., the Glenealy Nullah, and thus necessarily tended materially to increase the flood volume.\n\n26. It is, I think, apparent even to a casual observer that the development of the City was not foreseen by the Government of the Colony during its earlier years, nor by its technical advisers. Situated as the City mainly is on a strip of low-lying land overhung by steep mountain slopes, liable to excessive rainfall, it would appear obvious that a primary element of safety was to convey the water from the various nullahs through the habitable area by open masonry channels constructed along the natural course of the torrents. Instead of this, however, the water courses have, with few exceptions, been enclosed in culverts carried down the main streets, and when thus covered over, have been converted into sewers for the discharge of house drainage, a purpose for which they are obviously unfitted, and instead of the natural and straightest course having been adopted, these subterranean", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-242 - Governor Des Voeus Acting Governor Stewart - 1889 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348461, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "page_number": 194, "title": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "content_text": "# EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC WORKS, SUMMARY\n\n## 129. \nThe following statement shows briefly the state of the Extraordinary Public Works that have been in course of construction during the past year other than the Praya Reclamation, which I refer to later on, and those under the control of the Water & Drainage Department.\n\n- Central Market.—Foundations and superstructure complete to about three feet above ground level.\n- Gap Rock Lighthouse.—Nearly complete.\n- Training Albany Nullah and Branches.—Completed, except a portion of Branch Nullah No. 2.\n- New Roads and Preparatory Work, Kennedy Road Sites.—Nearly complete, except bridge over tramway and approach from Garden Road.\n- Reconstruction of Praya Bridge over Bowrington Canal.—Foundations of piers made good and girders in position.\n- Improvements Recreation Ground, Happy Valley.—The low area known as the \"pond\" has been raised, drained and turfed and the ground generally improved. The remaining portions of the proposed improvements have not yet been commenced.\n- Cattle Depôt Extension.—Site excavated and walls completed to level of roof-principals.\n- Slaughter House and Sheep and Pig Depôts.—Preparation of site very nearly complete.\n- Slaughter House, Kowloon.—Brickwork complete. Walls ready for roof.\n- Public Latrines.—Those that have been commenced are complete.\n- Civil Hospital Staff Quarters.—The floors are nearly all laid and joiners' and plasterers' work nearly complete.\n- Civil Hospital, Coolie Quarters.—Complete.\n- Civil Hospital, Alterations and Additions.—Hot water apparatus and retaining wall complete.\n- Lunatic Asylum for Chinese.—Complete.\n- Police Station, Aberdeen.—Complete.\n- Police Station, Quarry Bay.—Complete.\n- Public Station, Kennedytown.—Complete.\n- District School, Sai-ying-poon.—Complete.\n- Addition to Government House.—Complete, except electric lighting and decoration which are now in hand.\n- Quarters for Superintendent, Botanical & Afforestation Department.—Very nearly complete.\n- Pier, Stone Cutters' Island.—Complete.\n- Vaccine Institute.—Some joiners' and plasterers' work remains to complete this building.\n\n## PRAYA RECLAMATION WORKS\n\n## 130. \nI attach sketch No. 1 shewing the construction of the Praya Wall with granite footings and plinth course and sketch No. 2 shewing the construction of Praya Wall with concrete blocks which will render the following description more readily understood.\n\n## 131. \nSection No. 1.—A contract was entered into with Mr. CHAN YING-CHEUNG in July, 1891, for the construction of rubble foundations for the wall over a length of 969 lineal feet, and for 976 lineal feet of storm water drains and earth backing for same.\n\n## 132. \nThe amount of this contract is $51,000 and the time for its completion is May, 1892.\n\n## 133. \nTo the 31st of December 66,857 cubic yards of rubble had been deposited in situ, leaving 17,293 cubic yards of rubble and 31,000 cubic yards of earth backing to complete this contract.\n\n## 134. \nThe remaining or western portion about 734 lineal feet has not yet been commenced.\n\n## 135. \nSection No. 2.—A contract was entered into with Mr. TSANG KENG in January, 1890, for the construction of rubble foundations and earth backing required for the construction of the whole of the wall and storm water drains in this section. Length of wall 782 lineal feet. Length of drains 479 lineal feet.\n\n## 136. \nThe amount of this contract is $83,000 and the date of completion was fixed at 16th January, 1891.\n\n## 137. \nDuring the year 1890, 109,476 cubic yards of rubble and to the 31st of December, 1891, 116,222 cubic yards of rubble and 29,194 cubic yards of earth backing, had been deposited, leaving to complete this contract 5,508 cubic yards of rubble and 23,056 cubic yards of earth backing. The total amount of work done in this section during 1891 was the depositing of 6,746 cubic yards of rubble and 29,194 cubic yards of earth backing.\n\n## 138. \nSection No. 3.—A contract was entered into with Mr. TSANG KENG in December, 1890, for the construction of the necessary rubble foundations and earth backing for the wall over the whole length of this section about 1,060 lineal feet.\n\n## 139. \nThe amount of the contract is $94,000 and the date of completion was fixed at the 21st of December, 1891.\n\n## 140. \nThis work was not commenced till January, 1891.\n\n## 141. \nTo the 31st of December, 1891, 132,639 cubic yards of rubble and 2,873 cubic yards of earth filling had been deposited, leaving 37,461 cubic yards of rubble and 55,297 cubic yards of earth backing to complete this contract.\n\n## 142. \nThe depositing of further rubble must await the settlement of the foundations, but better progress should have been made with the earth backing.\n\n## 143. \nSections Nos. 4, 5 and 6.—Have not yet been commenced, the total length of walling required for these sections is about 4,206 lineal feet.\n\n## 144. \nSection No. 7.—A contract was entered into in April, 1890, with Mr. TSANG KENG for the construction of the necessary rubble foundations for 1,157 lineal feet of wall and 1,797 lineal feet of sewers and for backing the same with selected earth. The date fixed for the completion of this work was the 16th of January, 1891.\n\n## 145. \nDuring the year 1890, 99,630 cubic yards of rubble stone were deposited.\n\n## 146. \nTo the 31st of December, 1891, 123,584 cubic yards of rubble and 70,427 cubic yards of earth backing had been deposited completing the work except trimming the foreshore.\n\n## 147. \nThe total amount of work done under this contract during the year 1891 was the depositing of 23,954 cubic yards of rubble and 70,427 cubic yards of earth.\n\n## 148. \nIn March, 1891, Mr. TSANG KENG obtained the contract for the construction of the footing courses and plinth and backing the same over the whole length of this section. This work is now completed excepting pointing the external joints which cannot be done till the low tides are obtained.\n\n## 149. \nThe amount of this contract was $34,350.\n\n## 150. \nThe contract for the completion of the wall, raising the level of the reclaimed ground, constructing the necessary roads, channels and storm water drains, was obtained by Mr. CHAN A TONG in September, 1891.\n\n## 151. \nThe amount of the contract is $163,600 and the time fixed for its completion is December ...\n\n## 152. \nTo the 31st of December, 1891, 661 cubic yards of hand packed rubble, 20,979 cubic yards of earth and 96 cubic yards of concrete had been deposited and 5,458 cubic feet of granite ashlar set.\n\n## 153. \nIn May, 1891, a contract was entered into with Mr. CHAN A TONG for the construction of about 955 lineal feet of storm water drain in Ice House Lane. The amount of the contract was $8,280.73 and the time fixed for its completion is November, 1891.\n\n## 154. \nThis work was, however, delayed awaiting the completion of the sewers and water mains in this street.\n\n## 155. \nTo the 31st of December 13,675 cubic feet of granite ashlar and 402 cubic yards of concrete had been set and the work is now drawing near completion.\n\n## 156. \nIn September the contract for the reconstruction of the storm water drains in Wardley Street and Murray Road a length of 730 lineal feet was let to Mr. TSANG KENG. The amount of whose tender was $4,000 and the time fixed for the completion of the work expires next February.\n\n## 157. \nOnly moderate progress has been made with this work; 3,350 cubic feet of granite ashlar has been set and 114 cubic yards of concrete deposited.\n\n## 158. \nReclamation in front of Sailors' Home. The contract for constructing the Praya Wall (480 lineal feet) above the rubble foundations, filling in and raising the level of the reclaimed ground; and constructing the storm water drains (930 lineal feet) was entered into by Mr. CHAN YING CHEUNG in May, 1890. The amount of the contract was $50,800 and the time fixed for its completion was September, 1891.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348462, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "page_number": 195, "title": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "content_text": "# \n## \n### \n\n159. During the year 1890, 6,006 cubic yards of rubble and 31,987 cubic yards of earth filling were deposited.\n\n160. The work was completed in December except the upper layer of concrete behind the wall, which must stand over till the new channel is completed and the road concreted, which work is now in hand.\n\n161. During 1891, 685 cubic yards of rubble, 31,102 cubic yards of earth, 1,517 cubic yards concrete were deposited, and 25,419 cubic feet of granite ashlar set.\n\n162. In November last, a contract (3) was entered into with Mr. CHAN YING CHEUNG for the removal of the old sea wall, constructing roads, foot-paths, and gullies.\n\n163. The amount of the contract was $5,900, and the time fixed for its completion February, 1892.\n\n164. The old sea wall has been removed, and 20,160 square feet of road formed and levelled.\n\n165. Reclamation in front of Wharf and Godown Co's premises, West Point. In April, 1890, a contract was entered into with Mr. TSANG KENG for the construction of the Praya wall, including foundations, 592 lineal feet in length, raising the level of the reclaimed ground, constructing the roads, channels, and storm water drains. The Government undertook the supervision of this work on behalf of the Wharf and Godown Company.\n\n166. During the year 1890, 80,626 cubic yards of rubble and 60,641 cubic yards of earth filling were deposited.\n\n167. This work, with the exception of the roads and footpaths, is now nearly completed.\n\n168. During the year 1891, 1,393 cubic yards of rubble, 47,284 cubic yards of earth, 1,744 cubic yards of concrete were deposited, and 33,849 cubic feet of granite ashlar set.\n\n169. In November, 1891, a contract (1) was entered into with Mr. KAM Lum for taking up the old Praya wall.\n\n170. The amount of this contract was $1,200, and the time fixed for its completion December, 1891.\n\n171. This work has been completed.\n\n## CONCRETE Blocks and PLANT\n\n172. The late Surveyor General, in his report dated the 28th of December, 1889, recommended the adoption of two courses of concrete blocks, 8 feet by 4 feet by 3 feet, to be laid on the rubble foundations at a level of three feet below low water south-west monsoon.\n\n173. For the purpose of weighting the foundation and, as far as practicable, reducing further settlement after the permanent work has been commenced, the concrete blocks are to be laid on the rubble foundations as soon as they have been completed to within 3 feet of low water level over a base of 16 feet and carried up to a height of 6 feet above proposed coping level. On the completion of the settlement, these blocks are to be removed, the rubble foundation levelled, and the two courses of blocks above mentioned permanently set. Upon these, the masonry wall will be constructed.\n\n174. Sir JOHN COODE, in his report dated the 18th of March, 1890, approved of the late Surveyor General's recommendation and further advised that these blocks be faced with granite built in during their preparation on the exposed face.\n\n175. A contract was entered into with Mr. YEE HING for the construction of these blocks on 7th July, 1891.\n\n176. During last year, 579 blocks were made, of which 441 have been deposited on 140 lineal feet of the foundations of Section No. 2. Accurate observations are being taken of the settlement that from time to time occurs in the rubble foundations after depositing the blocks.\n\n177. The levelling of the foundations and depositing the blocks are being done departmentally.\n\n178. The site selected by the late Surveyor General for the construction of the blocks is situated at the western end of the existing Praya, along which a tramway has been laid.\n\n179. An 8-ton travelling crane has been obtained from Messrs. RANSOMES & RAPIER of England for the purpose of removing these blocks from the yard and placing them onto the block barges, which are then towed by the steam tug `Praya` to alongside the rubble foundations. A Floating Steam Derrick is then used to place the blocks on the foundations, and they are accurately adjusted by divers.\n\n180. The Steam Tug, Floating Steam Derrick, and two Block Barges, each capable of carrying 12 blocks, about 75 tons, were made by the Hongkong & Whampoa Dock Company at their works in Kowloon.\n\n181. A contract for the construction of two Hopper Barges capable of carrying 100 cubic yards of earth filling was entered into with the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company in August last. The amount of the contract is $19,000, and they are now nearly completed. On their completion, it is intended to utilize these for conveying the material necessary for filling in the reclaimed land.\n\n## SUMMARY\n\n182. The following statement shows briefly the present state of the Praya Reclamation Works.\n\n| Section | Description | Status |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| No. 1 | 989 lineal feet of rubble foundations | Complete to an average height of about 16 feet below proposed finished coping level |\n| No. 2 | 782 lineal feet of rubble foundations | Complete to an average height of 14 feet below proposed finished coping |\n| - | Reclamation in front of Sailors' Home | Complete excepting making roads |\n| - | Reclamation in front of Wharf & Godown Co's Premises | Complete excepting making roads |\n| No. 3 | 1,060 lineal feet of rubble foundations | Complete to an average height of about 16 feet below proposed finished coping level |\n| No. 7 | Rubble foundations and wall to top of plinth | Complete; Construction of wall and storm water drains and other works in hand since September last |\n| - | Concrete Blocks | 579 made, 441 deposited on foundations of Section No. 2 |\n| - | Plant | Travelling Crane, two Block Barges, a Floating Derrick, and Steam Tug obtained; Two Hopper Barges in course of construction |\n\n183. Statement No. 3 shows the quantities of the several classes of works executed, excepting concrete blocks, during the year 1891.\n\n## EXPENDITURE\n\n184. During the past year, the Expenditure on Staff and other charges has been $85,112.99. On Extraordinary Public Works, $260,564.40. On Annually Recurrent Works, $55,732.54. Total expenditure on works, excluding Praya Reclamation, $345,677.39.\n\nThe total liabilities outstanding amount to approximately $45,000.00.\n\nPraya Reclamation Works: The expenditure on Staff and other charges has been $17,151.03. The expenditure on works has been $240,555.73. Total, $257,706.76.\n\n185. I append Statement No. 1 showing the expenditure on Extraordinary Public Works previous to 1891, during 1891, and the total expenditure to the 31st of December last on those works completed during last year and those still in hand.\n\n186. Also Statement No. 2 showing the expenditure on the several sections of the Praya Reclamation Works, Plant, and Concrete Blocks previous to 1891, during 1891, and total expenditure to the 31st of December, 1891. This Statement also shows the total estimated cost of the works and the contributions paid by the Lot Holders and the Government, respectively, on account of the works.\n\nI have the honour to be,\nThe Honourable\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY.\n\nSir,\nYour most obedient Servant,\n**FRANCIS A. COOPER**,\nActing Surveyor General.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 355725, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-265 - Public Offices & Others - 1894", "page_number": 2, "title": "CO129-265 - Public Offices & Others - 1894", "content_text": "# Contents.\n\n| Date | Subject | Office |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 19 May | Chinese Passenger Traffic | Board of Trade |\n| 22 Aug. | High Level Tramway Testing of Machinery etc. | |\n| 13 Feb. | Brothel Regulations in Burmah | India Office |\n| 21 \" | | |\n| 22 Mar. | | |\n| 30 Apr. | Proposed British Dollar | \" |\n| 4 \" | | \" |\n| 6 June | Brothel Regulations in Burmah | |\n| 2 Aug. | Rifles taken to India by Sepoys | |\n| 5 Sept. | Brothel Regulations in Burmah | |\n| | Arms taken to India by Sepoys | |\n| 12 Nov. | | Law Officers |\n| 25 Aug. | Admiralty Court Fees | Treasury |\n| 5 June | Supply of Subsidiary Silver Coins | |\n| 26 July | Military Contribution, 1894 | |\n| 6 Nov. | New Barracks | |\n| 19 Oct. | | |\n| 12 Dec | | |\n| 28 \" | | Dent (China) |\n| | Note on National Bank of China | |\n| | Apportionment of cost of Bassantes | Porto |\n| 18 Jan. | Proposed Chinese Post Offices at Frenty | Foreign Office |\n| 13 \" | Claim of Hisamuddin Punwelker | |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-265 - Public Offices & Others - 1894.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 362959, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-275 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1897 [1-5]", "page_number": 475, "title": "CO129-275 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1897 [1-5]", "content_text": "after Her Majesty, The three resolutions which are now submitted for your favourable consideration have been carefully drafted and I sincerely hope they will practically meet the wishes of all sections. They read:--\n\n\"(1) That the most useful and most befitting manner of permanently commemorating the completion of the sixtieth year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria will be to erect a Hospital for women and children and the training of nurses, to be handed over to the Colonial Government, who have undertaken to maintain it in conjunction with and on the same footing as the Government Civil Hospital, and to subscribe towards the completion of the carriage road round the island, the former to be called 'The Victoria Jubilee Hospital,' and the latter 'The Victoria Jubilee Road,' or such other names as may be thought more appropriate by the Committee;\n\n(2) That this Committee take immediate steps to raise funds from all sections of the community of Hongkong for the purposes mentioned in the preceding resolution, and for local celebrations;\n\n(3) That the money so collected, together with an equal amount promised by the Colonial Government, be deposited at interest in the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in the name of the Jubilee Committee, and be disbursed by them after paying for the local celebration - one half towards the erection of the Hospital for women and children and the training of nurses and the other half towards the construction of the first section of the carriage road from Kennedytown to Aberdeen which the Government undertakes to commence forthwith and to carry out the remaining portion of the road until completed.\"\n\nThe erection of a hospital for women and children of all ranks, classes, creeds, and races, managed on the same lines as the Government Civil Hospital, and an institute attached for the training of nurses, will, I think, appeal to Her Majesty's sympathies, inasmuch as they will tend to alleviate the sufferings of all subjects of whatever nationality resident in this her far distant colony. The construction and the completion of a carriage road round the island will undoubtedly be of great utility, and will assuredly confer greatest good and benefit upon the greatest number. There are comparatively few who can afford to live on the higher roads in the City or at the Peak, and the overwhelming majority of the people are compelled to reside on the lower levels throughout the year. During six or seven months out of every twelve the hot and stifling atmosphere of the lower levels of Victoria is extremely trying, and often well nigh unbearable, as the breeze during the summer comes from the south. In his letter to this Committee of 31st March General Black writes \"I need hardly urge the appropriateness of a road to mark a great occasion; roads are the precursors of progress and civilization; they distinguish a rising from a barbarous state. Roads for recreation and health are one of the great wants in this island, &c.\" I feel sure you all heartily concur with General Black. The present road to the south owing to its steep gradient is practically prohibitive, but with a good level carriage road private enterprise would speedily provide a tramway running round to Aberdeen as a beginning at prices which would enable all classes to avail of the southern breezes and the cooler temperature on the south side during the hot months of the year. A really good road 30 feet wide with an easy gradient would be an inestimable boon and would materially advance the welfare of the colonists in addition to developing the resources of the colony on the south side of the island. (Applause.)\n\nMr. GILLIES - Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, it gives me very great pleasure to second the three resolutions just proposed by the Hon. Mr. Whitehead. I am sure that they require nothing further in the way of commendation to recommend them for your approval. Mr. Whitehead has given us a very able and a very clear idea of the advantages to be obtained from each of the schemes that he has just submitted, and I feel convinced in my own mind that there is nothing more appropriate or more popular with the citizens of Hongkong than projects which have just been submitted by Mr. Whitehead. (Applause.) We all know the great interest that Her Majesty takes in the hospitals at home. No doubt they have been brought very prominently before her and we all know that she takes a very deep interest in the sufferings and the well being of her loyal subjects. (Applause.) I may also be permitted to say that everything that tends to promote the health and the comfort of her loyal subjects she is also equally alive to and equally ready to support and give her kindness to; and I think the making of a road is a matter that commends itself very strongly to the people of Hongkong. (Applause). We have only one decent road in the colony for carriages and that is out to Shaukiwan, and I think that if we have a road going out to the southern part of the colony it would serve as an outlet not only for the Europeans but to the Chinese, who may seek a little fresh air after the toils and burdens of the day are over. They want a little refreshing breeze, as we all know that Chinatown is very much cramped and there is very little to be met there in the shape of fresh air. Here on the north side of the island the air certainly does not circulate with that freedom that it does on the south side, and I think that anyone who has made a trip to the south part of the island will bear me out in saying that the air there is most conducive to health. It is bracing and more strengthening than that we get upon the north side. The Civil Hospital, I may mention, is a credit to this colony. I do not think you can go to any city in England and find a hospital conducted on better principles than the Civil Hospital in Hongkong. Everything is done to promote the comfort and bring speedy relief to the sufferer. The patients meet with the best of attention and they receive the greatest care at the hands of the medical advisers, and if you look round you will see that the whole building is kept scrupulously clean and in a better condition, I think, than any hospital at home. In regard to the nursing institute, I think that will supply a want that has long been felt in Hongkong. We certainly know the great benefit of having a female nurse at our bedside in time of sickness and trouble. In the old days when a China boy used to hand you the medicine you were always afraid to accept it; you did not know whether he was giving you the medicine the doctor had ordered, neither did you know that he was giving it at the proper time. Now all this is changed and the ladies at the hospital are almost as good as a medical man himself. They follow the instructions of the medical man and are able to render very great service indeed and their kindness and attention tend very much towards the speedy recovery of the patient. I would remark that I think that all the three projects submitted by Mr. Whitehead here received more general support than any of the other schemes. We have seen more written on these three schemes than on any other project, and I think, judging from that, it proves that the community are more in favour of having this road and the hospital and training institute for nurses carried out than any other projects that have been submitted. I therefore have very little further to say. I think that the good points of these projects have been very favourably put before you in the Press and I have now very great pleasure in seconding the resolutions submitted by the Hon. Mr. Whitehead. (Applause).\n\nMr. EDE asked if the nurses were going to be available for the public, because if the nursing institute was going to be on the same principle as the Civil Hospital and managed by the Civil Hospital, how were the community going to get the nurses?\n\nThe HON. SECRETARY - It is the intention of the Government to obtain nurses from home who will be available for nursing among the general public, and the services of these nurses will be retained until such time as it is found that nurses trained locally are sufficiently well trained to be able to take their place.\n\n471", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-275 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1897 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 376618, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-299 - Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne - 1900 [5-6]", "page_number": 296, "title": "CO129-299 - Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne - 1900 [5-6]", "content_text": "# No. \n## Tel \n### HONG KONG \n292 \n## DESPATCH. \n### No. \n166-11 \n10011 \nA \nReef 20 MAY 001 \n**(Subject)** \n900 \nMay \n## Various Paper. \n923 \n### Tramway Construction \n\"Referring to my despatch No. 164 19th April, application from promoters has been made under ordinance for approval of Governor-in-Council to grant to syndicate right to construct low level tramways authorized by ordinance. Telegraph whether justified in withholding consent on ground that same routes are under consideration?\" \n\n## (Minutes.) \n### (on Paper) \nsee minutes \n- Lee \n15922 \n- J.ing 24/5 \n- H.D. 29.5", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-299 - Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne - 1900 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 386138, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12]", "page_number": 218, "title": "CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12]", "content_text": "of a much easier and less costly character than that connected with the reclamation.\n\nNow in progress. If my calculations are correct, this project, if carried out, will do for the Eastern portion of the Colony all and more than all that the Sanitary Board hoped to be able to accomplish, if their proposals for a Sanitary Trust had met with the approval of the Government.\n\n## Reclamation\n\nI propose that the reclamation of the foreshore of the Wanchai district from Arsenal Street to the East Point Refinery should be undertaken and carried out at the expense of the Marine Lot Holders on the same terms as those on which the present reclamation is being carried out, and under a similar, but slightly amended, Ordinance. This reclamation will involve the construction of a sea-wall 5,180 feet in length, starting from the Eastern extremity of the proposed extension of the Naval Yard and Arsenal, and continuous with the outer face of such extension, following on an easy curve the line of the Eastern Praya at a distance from it of about 145 feet and terminating at the Western extremity of the East Point Sugar Refinery premises, and in line with its northern face. It is calculated that the seawall will give an average depth of 16 feet at low water spring tides along its entire face. The land to be reclaimed within the new sea-wall will be laid out as follows:\n\nThe present Praya will be widened to 65 feet; a strip of building land 120 feet in width, specially designed to take two rows of Chinese houses, four stories in height, not exceeding 60 feet in extreme depth and having 15 feet backyards, will be laid out next to the old Praya along the entire length of the reclamation. Outside of that will come a thoroughfare 75 feet wide, beyond that another strip of building land 150 feet wide to allow of the construction of godowns, and then the New Praya, 75 feet wide. Ten streets, 50 feet in width, will traverse the reclamation from the Old to the New Praya. Plan herewith.\n\nFor the purpose of filling in the land to be reclaimed from the sea, the hills on which the Royal Naval Hospital and Morrison Hill houses stand—Inland Lots 84 and 86—will have to be acquired from their owners (acquisitions which can, I believe, be easily obtained on favourable terms hereinafter detailed), and cut down to the level of Queen's Road by the Eastern Market. This cutting down will not only supply all the stone and earth required for the sea-wall and reclamation, but will give the Colony an additional area of level ground of 1,562,100 square feet, or 35.85 acres, and will open out the whole of the Wanchai district, now shut in on the east, to the easterly and south-easterly winds; a further benefit will be conferred on the Colony by the leveling of the roads leading from the City to the Happy Valley.\n\nThe plan sent herewith shows clearly the area proposed to be leveled both north and south of the Queen's Road and also the method in which the new ground is proposed to be laid out. The project includes the widening of the Queen's Road to a breadth of 75 feet from the Eastern Market to the Race Course and Causeway Bay (an immense benefit in itself) and the piercing of the district by 6 other streets, each 50 feet wide, and running parallel to the Queen's Road and 3 at right angles to it, dividing the land into blocks of such size and shape that only the approved style of Chinese houses can be built on them.\n\nThe land to be dealt with by this portion of my scheme covers, as already stated, 1,562,100 square feet, or 35.85 acres. Of this, Inland Lot 84, Morrison Hill, the property of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., includes 790,614 square feet, or 18.15 acres. Inland Lot 86, the property of the Admiralty, covers 203,014 square feet, or 4.66 acres, and the balance 568,472 square feet, or 13.04 acres is still undisposed of, and is the property of the Government, but is, in its present state, unsaleable.\n\n| Description | Square Feet | Acres |\n|----------------------|-------------|-------|\n| Inland Lot 84 | 790,614 | 18.15 |\n| Inland Lot 86 | 203,014 | 4.66 |\n| Balance | 568,472 | 13.04 |\n\nI believe that I will have no difficulty in arranging, if authorized to do so, with Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. for the surrender by them of the whole of their land on condition that they receive back on the same terms, and at the same rent as at present, about 521,800 square feet of building land, or 11.98 acres, out of the improved area.\n\nAs to the Royal Naval Hospital ground, the acquisition of this involves rather more difficulty and entails a considerable expenditure by the Colonial Government in the first instance—an expenditure, however, to be fully recouped in the end, without interfering with the estimated profit to the Government already referred to.\n\nThe Naval Authorities want a new and improved hospital with more accommodation. They would prefer a site more directly accessible from the water, and farther removed from the Chinese quarter of the City. Flagstaff Hill at Kowloon, now the property of the War Department, would afford ample space for a hospital double the size of the present building, with extensive grounds, the purest air, the freshest breezes at all seasons, and easy accessibility. I estimate that a suitable hospital could be constructed on Flagstaff Hill with every possible convenience for $200,000. This money the Colonial Treasury would have to provide in the first instance, but it could easily be procured locally at 5 per cent. if the Government so wished. As for the ground, the Military have no use for it, and they would gladly exchange it for an equal area more towards the centre of Kowloon. This would entail the resumption of certain lands there which there would be no difficulty in acquiring as the power of the Crown to resume is clear, and the cost would, I think, not exceed $200,000 if resumption was effected at once.\n\nThe total cost of the improvements proposed to be effected is estimated (not including the cost of the new Naval Hospital) at $1,100,000, which is made up as follows:\n\n| Item | Cost |\n|---------------------------------------|------------|\n| Pierre Perdu Sea-wall | $83,650 |\n| Filling in, including Cutting down, Leveling and Laying out of Morrison Hill and Naval Hospital hill | $247,000 |\n| Sewers | $441,200 |\n| Carrying out Channelling of Streets, etc. | $149,000 |\n| Contingencies 5% | $49,500 |\n| | **$1,047,880** |\n| Say | $1,100,000 |\n\nAll these items are worked out at the present high rates of labour and material.\n\nThe whole of this will be borne by the existing Marine Lot holders in the Wanchai district, who will receive an augmentation to their holdings of 1,492,080 square feet divided rateably among them in proportion to their frontages, the Government, in respect of No. 2 Police Station, being numbered amongst the Marine Lot holders and receiving 71,400 square feet of the above. The cost works out at about 70 cents per square foot of available building land reclaimed.\n\nIn addition to the building land added to the Colony by the reclamation, which is calculated to afford accommodation for 1,331 four-storied houses, there will, by the cutting down of Morrison and Naval Hospital Hills and the hills adjoining on the south, as shown in the plan, be added to the available building land in the Colony, leveled and ready for building 994,700 square feet, or 22.83 acres, affording accommodation for 1,082 three-storied houses. Of this, 521,000 square feet, or 11.98 acres, will go to Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. in compensation for the land surrendered by them; 472,900 square feet, or 10.85 acres, will be handed over to the Government free of all cost.\n\nThe Colony will, in addition to the building land thus added to its resources, have acquired, if the scheme is carried out, new streets, etc. covering an area of 1,740,600 square feet, or 39.95 acres, of which two-thirds, or 26.93 acres, will be included in the reclamation.\n\nThe value of the land thus placed at the disposal of the Government is estimated at $1,137,050, namely:\n\n| Lot Description | Square Feet | Rate | Value |\n|----------------------------------------|-------------|--------|---------|\n| Front Lot opposite No. 2 Police Station | 23,500 | $2.00 | $47,000 |\n| Back Lot opposite No. 2 Police Station | 69,000 | $2.00 | $138,000 |\n| Naval Hill Lot | 45,000 | $2.50 | $112,500 |\n| Begal Naval Hill Lot | 472,000 | $2.00 | $944,000 |\n| | | Total | $1,241,500 |\n\nFrom which must be deducted cost:\n\n| Item | Cost |\n|-----------------------------------------|----------|\n| New Royal Naval Hospital | $200,000 |\n| New Site for Military | $200,000 |\n| Compensation to Leaseholders for Resumption | $100,000 |\n| | $500,000 |\n\nBalance in favour of Government $687,050 ($1,187,000 - $500,000).\n\nThe Annual Crown Rents for the new building areas are estimated as follows:\n\n| Area Description | Acres | Rate per Acre | Annual Rent |\n|-------------------|-------|---------------|-------------|\n| Praya East | 54.35 | $350 | $19,022.50 |\n| Royal Naval | 11.10 | $600 | $6,660 |\n| | | | **$25,682.50** |\n\nThe annual rateable value of the houses when built is estimated at $1,158,240, and is made up as follows:\n\n2,413 Houses at $40 per House—a Gross Annual Rental of $96,520; Rateable Value @ 13% = $12,547.60 (for 1,082 houses) and for 1,331 houses $159,571.\n\nThe Government would, therefore, not only have ground to dispose of, of the value of $687,050, but would have an annual revenue of $184,481, which, capitalized at 5%, would amount to $3,689,620.\n\nI respectfully submit this scheme for the approval of the Government and of the Secretary of State.\n\nThe proposals have been carefully thought out, and the calculations are fairly accurate. Our experience with the Praya Reclamation Scheme now in process of execution enables me to judge with certainty as to the character of the work to be done, the cost to be incurred, and the time to be taken, and also as to the benefits to the Colony from the works proposed.\n\nThe Wanchai district will be laid open to ventilation and improvement in a way in which it could not possibly be dealt with before. The removal of the two hills to the Eastward will add immensely to the area of the district, and to the easy accessibility of the districts to the east of it. The reclamation will add further to its area. The proposed new roads and Praya will facilitate the erection of healthful buildings and the improved sanitation of the neighbourhood. The erection of all new houses will be brought under the strictest sanitary rules. This will compel landlords to improve and rebuild in the area now under occupation. An immense addition will be made to the area of the district, and to the income to be derived from it by the Colony at a minimum of expense, and with a minimum of disturbance of existing interests.\n\nBut—and I beg most respectfully to call attention to it—if the benefits indicated are to be derived from this project, it must be proceeded with at once, and vigorously. It must be finished within five years, and with proper measures, it can be done easily in that time.\n\nIt is a much simpler undertaking than the Western Reclamation, but if it is to draw the population from the central part of the City, and ease the pressure of population there, it must be accompanied by some intelligent scheme of tramway communication between the heart and the extremities of the City, which will be cheap and attractive.\n\nOf all things, speed is the most important; otherwise, the steady increase in the population of the Colony will overtake the provision to be made for their accommodation.\n\nPage 214", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 389031, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-317 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [4-6]", "page_number": 538, "title": "CO129-317 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [4-6]", "content_text": "## outlet for the production in Hongkong. Scarcity of water and greatly increased cost of labour were factors which further conduced to an unfavourable result for local Refineries.\n\nIn other respects the outlook for industrious enterprise in Hongkong is on the whole promising.\n\n### (c.)---FISHERIES\n\nA considerable proportion of the boat-population of Hongkong supports itself by deep-sea fishing, in which pursuit a large number of junks are engaged. In the immediate neighbourhood of the Colony, or within its territorial waters, the fishing industry has not assumed any considerable dimensions.\n\nAbout $2,000 was paid into the Treasury during the year from fees for fishing stakes and station licences in the New Territory.\n\n### (d.)-FORESTRY, BOTANICAL, SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE\n\nNearly 6,500 new trees were planted in Hongkong during the year, and more than 31,500 in the New Territory, the majority being pines. It has been found that camphors will grow successfully in the New Territory and nearly 3,000 of these trees were planted in the neighbourhood of the new Taipo Road.\n\nForestry and Botanical work generally made good progress during the year, though hampered to a considerable extent by the excessive drought in the Spring and the severity of the typhoons during July.\n\nGood experimental work is carried on by a Chinese gentleman in the New Territory, who has under cultivation sugar cane, mulberries, and various fruit trees, flowers and vegetables. As the cultivation is carried on strictly according to Western methods, and with the assistance of Government, it is hoped that the Chinese of the New Territory will benefit by this excellent object-lesson.\n\nIn another district of the New Territory a considerable area is being cultivated by a small company under European supervision. So far success has attended the growing of vegetables, and both hemp and Chinese tobacco give promise of repaying cultivation.\n\n### (e.)-LAND GRANTS AND GENERAL VALUE OF LAND\n\nSales of Crown land for the year 1902 amounted in value to $571,361.22, or more than $70,000 in excess of the estimated receipts from this source, and more than $330,000 over the actual receipts for 1901. The only year in which a larger sum has been realized was 1900, when the receipts were $816,222. The value of the land in the New Territory which is contiguous to the harbour or south of the Kowloon range of hills has enormously increased in value since the British occupation commenced. As an example of this, a case may be cited of a small land-owner who before the New Territory was taken over held about 127 acres of land near Devil's Peak, west of the Lyeemon Pass, and paid a tax to the Chinese authorities of $5 per annum. As soon as his title to the land was confirmed by the Hong Kong Land Court, he sold it to a local Company for $50,000.\n\nThe cadastral survey of the New Territory and the demarcation of the farm lots was a difficult and costly work owing to the rugged and mountainous nature of the ground and the small size of the holdings. This work is now practically finished, and rapid progress is being made with the new rent-roll.\n\nBuilding land in the urban portion of the Colony is limited in extent and continues to be very costly.\n\n## III-LEGISLATION\n\nForty-seven Ordinances were passed during 1902, of which twenty-two were amending and twelve private Ordinances.\n\nThe dependence of the Colony for its water-supply on the annual rainfall, and the occurrence of a serious water famine in the Spring of the year under review, showed the necessity of introducing new legislation to regulate and control the supply. The result was the Water-works Consolidation Ordinance, which had for its object the economising of water.\n\nFour Ordinances dealt with the New Territory, chiefly in connection with Crown lands resumption, rent recovery, and the registration of titles.\n\nOf the private measures the most important was the Tramway Ordinance (No. 10 of 1902), by which the construction of an electric tramway within the Colony was authorized and the necessary legal powers conferred upon the Company by which the tramway is to be constructed.\n\n## IV.-EDUCATION\n\nThe educational system in the Colony is at present undergoing revision, and it is as yet too early to speak with confidence of the results which may be expected from measures which are, to some extent, only tentative.\n\nOf recent years the demand among the Chinese for instruction in the English language has largely increased, and is now so keen that all the Anglo-Chinese schools of the Colony are full, and many would-be pupils cannot find admittance. There is also a growing number of night-schools and other non-aided institutions where English is taught. One such school, founded little more than a year ago, has a total enrolment of 300; and application has been made by its Manager for its inclusion, under the Government Code, among aided Schools.\n\nOf Government Schools, Queen's College, with an average attendance of nearly one thousand, is the most important. Three Anglo-Chinese District Schools, with a total enrolment of about 400, were entirely re-constituted and put under European headmasters from the end of the year. Of aided Anglo-Chinese Schools, the Roman Catholic Cathedral School has an average attendance of over one hundred. In all these schools a large proportion of the staff consists of European masters.\n\nDuring the year a school for children (both sexes) of European British parentage was established at Kowloon: it has already a total enrolment of over sixty.\n\nA Committee was appointed early in the year to consider the whole question of education in the Colony; and it published a report in which were enunciated several important principles. Of these perhaps the most universally accepted is the dictum that while educating Chinese in English and Western Knowledge, it is also desirable to ensure a certain standard of proficiency in the Chinese written language.\n\nThe Inspector of Schools, who was in England during the summer, made a study of the methods employed by the Board of Education, and on his return drew up a new Code for aided Schools. This draft has since received the full approval of the Managers of Schools.\n\n## V.-PUBLIC WORKS\n\nThe principal public works undertaken or completed within the year were the new Law Courts, the road to Taipo, the Western Market, the new Harbour Office, an extension of the Tytam Reservoir, the Kowloon Water-works, and the Governor's new Peak Residence. The Law Courts are to be built on the Praya Reclamation. The greater part of the year was occupied in forming the foundations, which were nearly completed. The road to Taipo, the administrative centre of the New Territory, was practically finished. Its width is 14 feet and its length 18 miles. The foundations of the new Western Market were nearly completed up to ground level, and also those of the new Harbour Office. The new Water-works at Tytam and Kowloon have been undertaken in consequence of the inadequacy of the existing water supply to meet the requirements of the city of Victoria during the dry season. The excavation of the foundations for the new Tytam Reservoir, over a length of about 280 feet, was practically completed, and a portion was filled in with concrete. The new Kowloon Water-works scheme is in the hands of a firm of local architects and engineers. Beyond the laying of mains, the defining of drainage boundaries and a certain amount of excavation, there has not yet been time to make any decided progress with the work.\n\nThe Governor's new Peak Residence was completed in July and occupied shortly afterwards. The house is large and substantial and stands near the highest point on the island.\n\nThe total amount spent on Public Works Extraordinary during the year was $1,157,104; and on works annually recurrent, $506,793. Of the former sum, $508,000 was expended in the purchase of a site on the Praya Reclamation for the new Post Office.\n\nPage 531", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-317 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 405745, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-335 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [8-10]", "page_number": 287, "title": "CO129-335 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [8-10]", "content_text": "Damage to Tram-ways.\n\n283\n\nthese piers was much injured as were also the protecting walls of various other Marine Lots on the West side of the Kowloon Peninsula.\n\n20. Neither the low level Electric Tramway Company nor the Peak Tramway Company suffered materially though the former had 6 cars derailed by the force of the wind and by obstructions on the line and ceased working entirely after the storm for the remainder of the day. On the 19th, a short length of the line was reopened. This length was extended on the 20th, and again on the 22nd, but a week elapsed before tram-cars ran on the whole line as before the typhoon.\n\nDamage to Street, Lighting, and Telephones.\n\n21. Much damage was done to the Gas, Electric Light and Telephone Services in Victoria, the Peak and Kowloon. Many lamp-posts were blown down and Electric Light and Telephone Poles bent and broken while for some time wires lay in tangled confusion along and across roads. The Companies who provide these services have not yet completed all repairs which were greatly put back by subsequent storms and cannot at present state their total cost.\n\n22. Damage to other private property.\n\nI find it impossible to give any reliable", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-335 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [8-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 424714, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-365 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1910 [1-3]", "page_number": 362, "title": "CO129-365 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1910 [1-3]", "content_text": "## OP Y. \n### Enclosure 1. \n\n**C** \n\nHon. Colonial Secretary, \n\n2493 356 \n\nRace 1 APR 10) \n\nThe Chinese part of the scheme, which is evidently very secondary to the European part in the mind of the applicant, may be neglected. Many houses are standing vacant in Wanchai, which can already be easily reached by tramway from the centre of Victoria, and beyond Wanchai, there are building sites along or close to the tramway more accessible than would be the neighbourhood of Aberdeen with the connection proposed in the scheme. If a low-level connection is to be made to join Victoria with flat land on the South of the Island, it should certainly not go via Pokfulam.\n\nThe European part of the scheme with 150 houses would cost at least £200,000. 5% interest on this would be £10,000 per annum, and working expenses and maintenance of tramway and buildings would not be less than £5,000 per annum. £15,000 in all would have to be covered before any profits could be made. This would fall on at most 150 householders, so that the houses would not be particularly cheap ones, even if the scheme were fully successful. I am satisfied it would not be successful. It was thought that the Jubilee Road would open up part of the district to which the tunnel now proposed gives access, but it has not done so. If there had been any desire to live in this district, I have no doubt a cable tramway from near the present Peak Tramway Station to below Pokfulam Reservoir would have been suggested before now. Such a tramway would not cost one-fifth of the proposed tunnel line and would practically answer the same purpose.\n\nI believe that the present scheme, if it were got beyond the floating of a company, its failure would militate against the success of other projects of a more practical nature. I believe that the present scheme would fail.\n\nIn these circumstances, please write that I have carefully considered the proposals contained in Messrs. Johnson Stokes and Master's letter of 12th February, 1906, and that", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-365 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1910 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 429858, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-374 - Public Offices & Others - 1910", "page_number": 50, "title": "CO129-374 - Public Offices & Others - 1910", "content_text": "47\n\nwith economical problems of the greatest import, problems which are likely to affect seriously the welfare of the Colony.\n\nB\n\nOne has only to take into consideration the War department Reservations, the Waterworks limitations, and the distance from the business part of the Town and from the Tramway station of the plots at present still available on the upper and middle levels, and the defective communications between Kowloon and Victoria, to see that the above is no exaggeration. The new High Level Tramway will only benefit existing localities which have been fully built over, and is not likely to open up any new building areas, because when the Tramway leaves the Albany and Queen's Gardens district, the building possibilities are brought to an end by the precipitous conformation of the land, through which the line passes to the Peak.\n\nIt is a matter of common knowledge that the rents obtaining in Hongkong are out of all proportion to the accommodation offered, and that they are far above the rents paid in other colonies for far superior accommodation, and also that houses available in and around Victoria have proved every year insufficient to the needs of the ever-increasing population, as is instanced by the fact that numerous families are permanent boarders at the different Hotels and Boarding Houses at Victoria. It follows that the dearth of suitable houses is severely felt by all members of the communities alike, and whilst only a few can afford to pay the exorbitant rents charged for the houses on the upper levels, a large portion of the community are compelled to live in other parts of the town, amidst objectionable neighbours where rents are not cheap, and from where, should the occasion present itself (an occasion which the projected railway and buildings would give), they would willingly remove.\n\nThe many causes which help to keep up the rents in the Colony are not in any way likely to disappear. On the contrary, rents in Victoria, in compliance with the uniform law of demand and supply, are bound to increase out of all proportion to all economical laws.\n\nOur client's scheme, if at first it would not reduce the rents, would doubtlessly strongly help to steady the present conditions of things by supplying a sufficient number of suitable residences at moderate rents, and the scheme would ultimately relieve the tension and the congestion, and would bring things to a more normal level.\n\nAmong the Military contingent alone, it would not be difficult to find numerous families willing to rent suitable houses, if they could be found, while amongst the commercial community, many would be willing to remove to more salubrious and sanitary localities, and to better-built houses in better neighbourhoods with more congenial surroundings than those in which they are now compelled to reside for want of anything better. It is an undeniable fact that so long as the interests of the community are centred in the City of Victoria and there is no prospect whatever that the business portion of the Town will ever shift across the harbour, the majority of people whose interests are closely connected with the business, trade, and commerce of the Colony will be compelled to prefer a residence within convenient and easy reach of the City and their offices, and it is this compulsion which has helped to such an extent to overcrowd the building areas of the Island within a certain radius of the City of Victoria.\n\nOur client submits that all conveniently situated areas in Hongkong are already built upon to their utmost limits, and that a scheme should be welcome which will relieve the congestion in a manner that must not appeal only to your Government but also to private interests and to every individual member of the community.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-374 - Public Offices & Others - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 432305, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9]", "page_number": 55, "title": "CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9]", "content_text": "## V.-PUBLIC WORKS\n\nOf the principal works in progress, the Kowloon Waterworks Reservoir was completed and the New Government Offices and Law Courts made fair progress. A contract for the construction of the Mongkoktsui Breakwater and contingent works was let in October and a substantial start with the work was made before the close of the year.\n\nThe following buildings were completed:-- Extension of Tai Po Land Office; Slaughter House, Shankiwan; Prison Extension; an additional Room at Queen's College for Pupil Teachers; a Coal-shed at Tsim Sha Tsui Police Basin; a Fruit Market on the triangular space behind the old Harbour Office; a latrine in Nelson Street, Kowloon, and a Urinal in Queen's Road East near Arsenal Street. The following were in progress:- Kowloon Market; Additions to No. 2 Police Station; Staff Quarters, Kennedy Town Hospital; Police Station, Tsun Wan; Re-building of Government Pavilions Hospital at the Quarantine Station, Lai Chi Kok; Workshops and Sheds for Ambulances, &c., at the City Disinfecting Station; Latrines in Mee Lun Lane and Rutter Street (the latter to replace one demolished on account of the extension of the Tung Wah Hospital premises) and a Trough Closet in Queen's Road West under the ramp leading to the Government Civil Hospital.\n\nOne of the bungalows at Tai Po, constructed for the accommodation of the staff engaged on the construction of the Railway, was taken over by the Public Works Department for the accommodation of its officers.\n\nThe extension of Argyle Street referred to in last year's report and a road of a somewhat temporary description to connect it with the existing road to Kowloon City were completed as was also a short length of road to Westward of the Kowloon Cricket Club's allotment in King's Park. In Victoria, a pathway to connect Kennedy Road with Queen's Road East near Arsenal Street was completed and diversions of Caine Road past No. 2 Tank and of Wongneichong Road past Inland Lot 1698 were in progress. Outside the City, some important improvements in the Shaukiwan Road in the vicinity of Quarry Bay were undertaken, the electric tramway being taken up and relaid where necessary. In the New Territories, the section of road from Castle Peak to Ping Shan was completed and extensions to Un Long and Au Tau were undertaken. Another section of the same road, which will ultimately connect Castle Peak with Sha Tan Kok, extending from San Tin by way of Fan Ling Railway Station to Au Ha Gap, was also undertaken and was nearing completion at the close of the year.\n\nThe reconstruction of Gullies and the training of the large nullah west of the University site from Hill Road to the Pokfulam Conduit were completed. Progress was made in substitution of iron pipes for defective earthenware ones.\n\n## 15\n\nThe new ferro-concrete Piers at Kowloon City and at the Gunpowder Depot on Green Island were completed as was also the deepening of Causeway Bay. The completion of the reclamation at Gillies Avenue, Hunghom, was undertaken, a number of low-lying areas being filled in at the same time. A reclamation to provide a site for a market and a slaughter house at Aberdeen was in progress. A considerable section of Tai Hang Village was reconstructed, the level of the area dealt with being raised about 5 feet.\n\nMuch useful work was done under the votes \"Miscellaneous Works\", \"Forming and Kerbing Streets\" and \"Drainage Works Miscellaneous\", and the raising of a considerable section of sunken sewers in Connaught Road was carried out.\n\nCompensation was paid for a number of scavenging lanes or portions of same.\n\nThe large main to facilitate the distribution of Tytam water to the Western district of the City was completed and a 4\" main for supplying the village of Tai Hang with filtered water was laid. Sundry mains for extending and improving the distribution system in Kowloon were laid.\n\nThe total amount expended on Public Works Extraordinary was $1,223,909.83 and on works annually recurrent $429,835.24.\n\nIn the sum expended under the former head is included an amount of $309,479 which was paid for the acquisition by Government of Kowloon Inland Lots No. 442 and 618 as a site for the Kowloon-Canton Railway Terminus. The proposal to utilize the lots in this manner was, however, subsequently held in abeyance.\n\nThe Colony fortunately escaped visitation by any typhoon or rainstorm of a serious nature.\n\n## Railway\n\nAll the Earthwork of the British section of the Kowloon-Canton Railway was completed during the year. The Hung Hom Cutting was handed over by the Contractors in September for the laying of the Permanent Way. The Gascoigne Road Diversion and the Reclamation were finished early in December. North of Tai Po the troublesome cutting at Mile 16 (Gill's Cutting) was revetted and drained. The Lining of Beacon Hill and Tai Po Tunnels was completed early in February. Bridges 2, 3, 4, 8, 12 and the additions to others were finished in time and did not delay the platelaying. The laying of Permanent Way began in March and was completed by the middle of May, the ballasting taking some time longer as is usual. All Stations, Staff Quarters and Buildings were completed by June. The Engines and Rolling Stock arrived at various periods of the year and were duly erected before the end of September. The site for the Workshops was levelled early in the year and the erection of Workshops began at the end of November.\n\nPage 53", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 437840, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-390 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [5-6]", "page_number": 46, "title": "CO129-390 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [5-6]", "content_text": "# RECREATION\n\nPLAN OF EXISTING TRAMWAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF WONG NEI CHEONG SHOWING PROPOSED EXTENSION AND PROPOSED CABLE TRAMWAY TO PLATEAU.\n\nSCALE 160 FEET TO 1 INCH\n\n[Map content with various annotations and markings, including \"WONG NEI CHEONG VALLEY\", \"Grand Stand\", and other geographical and structural labels]\n\nREFERENCES\n\n1. EXISTING LINES OF LOW LEVEL TRAMWAY.\n\n2. PROPOSED EXTENSION OF LOW LEVEL TRAMWAY.\n\n3. PROPOSED CABLE TRAMWAY TO PLATEAU.\n\nPALMER & TURNER, CIVIL ENGINEERS.\n\nHong Kong - April, 1912.\n\nPROPOSED TRAMWAY - ROAD TO CIDADE CAMOES.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-390 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 439344, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-393 - Governor Sir May - 1912 [11]", "page_number": 261, "title": "CO129-393 - Governor Sir May - 1912 [11]", "content_text": "253\n\n248\n\nIn view of these facts I am of opinion that the quantity of Hongkong coin which would flow suddenly into the Colony if prohibition of Chinese coins were resorted to would not be large, and that the problem of rehabilitating the subsidiary coinage of this Colony is a much simpler one than it has hitherto been regarded.\n\n8.\n\nIt is even possible that it may be solved without prohibition by discrediting the Chinese coins. With this object in view I have on the suggestion of the Chief Manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation persuaded the Low Level Tramway Company, the High Level Tramway Company, and the Star Ferry Company, who are the principal sufferers among European institutions from the discount on subsidiary coins, of which they receive large quantities daily in fares, to decline to accept Chinese coins.\n\nThis they have consented to do on my urgent representations that they should assist the Government in its efforts to restore the Hongkong coins to par.\n\ndosure 2.\n\n27707\n\nThe innovation was begun on Monday the 18th instant. Precautions were taken by the Police to deal with any attempts at resentment by the population at the refusal of Canton coins. No difficulty occurred and I am glad to say that other establishments are following the example of the 3 Companies mentioned. I enclose an extract from a local newspaper on the subject.\n\n9.\n\nThe moment is peculiarly opportune for this action and even for the more decided step of prohibition: for since I wrote my Despatch of the 2nd of August the Canton Government has prohibited the export of their silver coins nominally on the plea of their scarcity but in reality in order to force the use of their notes in the Province and in this Colony. They cannot therefore take exception to the action of this Government if it proceeded to co-operate with them by prohibiting the circulation of their coins in the Colony.\n\n10.\n\nI shall report further to you the effect of", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-393 - Governor Sir May - 1912 [11].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 439511, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "page_number": 3, "title": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "content_text": "20129\n\n394\n\nDESP.\n\nNO.\n\nH12.\n\nDATE\n\n2 Dec.\n\n41912 VOL. Y\n\nSubsidiary, comage,\n\nSUBJECT\n\nReacas Opium Farm Chium traffic.\n\nOfficial members of bouncils.\n\nImportation of shimmer with China-\n\nRetirement of L.E. Brett.\n\nUniversity scholarships. Masters, Queen's College.\n\n3\n\n413.\n\n5\n\nBonuses & hesses. Carpenter & Xavier.\n\nTel.\n\n13\n\n415\n\n13\n\nHIG.\n\n13\n\n414. 13\n\nFinancial measures\n\nf\n\nCaulon Gort.\n\nHIG. 144\n\n16\n\n16\n\n423. My\n\n46244\n\n13\n\nHIS\n\n426.\n\n47.\n\n432. 23\n\nDistrict officer.\n\nLease to Royal Hong Kong Golf club.\n\nOchium traffic.\n\nBoycott of Low Level Tramway.\n\nW.V.M.\n\nBonus to W.V.M. Koch.\n\nThrum emoking in bauton.\n\nPiracies & in\n\nKuangthing hongkongliui breakwater. Turkish & Persian Opium. Maintenance\n\nbase of\n\nLeave.\n\nof telephones. in\n\nConstable Ward.\n\nForeign Bank holes.\n\nKimestone controvery. Suppression of opium\n\n24\n\n2\n\n24\n\n30\n\n31\n\nPost Office Building\n\n23\n\nOrace. 41.\n\nCliness hational Assembly.\n\nEnig\n\n(See next sheet)\n\n(47615A) Wt 12218A/2108 2000 10/28 H & J, Ld Gp 113", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 439513, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "page_number": 5, "title": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "content_text": "Foreign Office.\n\nK\n\n\"\n\n#1\n\n#\n\nK\n\nDespite D\n\nDATE\n\n16 Jan Opium boufce.\n\n14\n\nA\n\nOpium.\n\nSUBJECT\n\nConvention.\n\n#\n\nAy\n\nbonf\n\n1\n\nCoufee.\n\n14\n\n23\n\n23\n\n22\n\n31\n\n\"\n\n+\n\nOpium.\n\n14\n\nDate.\n\n1912\n\n1 Dec\n\nLast previous Paper.\n\n70483\n\nTel. No. 9 Jan 13. You 942/13\n\next subsequent Paper\n\nDespatches\n\n(Dtc.)\n\nHONG KONG\n\n40743\n\nSubsidiary bomage\n\nC.O.\n\n3\n\n40743\n\nRFC 23 DEC 12\n\nReport's as to boycott of Low Level Tramway\n\nas\n\nbos cars Chinese money for bares.\n\nresult of refuzal\n\naccept-\n\nAsk for approval.\n\nof be. being indemnified by Yout for any loss\n\n4. Collect\n\nSeals Ex / 45783. Ther pop here\n\nbeen awaiting my\n\n404/83\n\nritum from lease.\n\nFrom For/wit appears that the for thinks that there are a great deal laws than\n\nthe\n\n$20 million (Atk out com in existence, though I do not think that the argumenty from small amount & suten tendered by the Banks (paras (xg), that there is in circulation is very thing. The bulk othe subcom is no doubt in Kwang thing\n\nhttle\n\nw what is mom with a new to whebilitating OK out com\n\n9,2\n\n6,468).,, 28,404-65. 0000. 10/12.\n\n1.&E.W.\n\n3", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 439514, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "page_number": 6, "title": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "content_text": "the for has induced the two tramway Cos the Govt. to refuse Chinese comy at the Canton frontier!\n\nThey think that\n\nif prohibited export & Chinese comy's thing might cooperate by prohibiting the circulation of Chinese comy's with Colony.\n\nHe adds that he doesn't like yr scheme\n\nas\n\nhinted note above - which indeed My Lord deprecated.\n\nIn this desp(atches)\n\nFist may remark that\n\nthere has been trouble on the refusal to take\n\nChinese comy in the can ft. Low Level\n\nhe wants permission\n\nTramway indemnify the Co. for my\n\nThrough\n\non to\n\nWas they may\n\nmeans during the boycott I am inclined\n\nto think that this is reasonable. The Co.\n\nacted as they did to meet the wishes of the\n\nGovt. & it is hardly fair be heavily penalised by their action\n\nIt is still going on in the fi... Ister winding to the W newspaper\n\nI think that perhaps\n\nwe\n\nhad better\n\nA Letter\n\ndesp\n\nTramway proposal approved\n\nand copy of corresp. to Treas.\n\nIt does not ask for a telegram. The proposal is a novel\n\none, and would create\n\na serious precedent. In\n\nany case it\n\nrequires some further elucidation on what basis is compensation to be paid\n\non Cons of receipts in depreciated times compared with the less depreciated corresponding period? And is it to make up the whole loss on the average weekly takings or on a part of it? If we do this for the Low Level Co. I fear\n\nPage 40483", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 439515, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "page_number": 7, "title": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "content_text": "the other two Companies will also discover that they have made a loss,\n\nAnd there may\n\nbe others in a similar position.\n\nI would telegraph that before\n\nli\n\nproposal your full information as to the basis\n\ncan be considered, he should\n\nin\n\nwhich he proposes to assess compensation, and also whether payment to the Law Level Company is likely to give rise to claims by others, and the probable amount.\n\n4.1.13\n\nThe probable amount, I understand, relates to the Low Level Company\n\nany\n\nBr over\n\nother possible claimants. I agree entirely with Sir J. Anderson.\n\nE5.1.13 *6-1-13\n\nAnd I\n\nwhat peris\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nSir,\n\n45 2048.\n\nC.O. 40743\n\nGOVERNMENT HOUSE.\n\nHONGKONG. 2nd December, 1912.\n\nWith reference to paragraph 8 of my Confidential Despatch of the 21st ultimo, I have the honour to inform you that a boycott of the Low Level Tramways Company's cars has been organised by the Chinese as a result of the refusal of the Company to receive in fares any money other than that which is legal tender in the Colony. This new regulation has worked smoothly in the case of the High Level Tramways and the Star Ferry Company and in the case of the Low Level Tramways it met with no opposition for the first few days. On the evening of the 24th ultimo, however, a disturbance described in the attached report from the Captain Superintendent of Police broke out near the works of the Taikoo Shipyard where a large number of Chinese are employed and the example set by these roughs has unfortunately spread to Victoria.\n\nThe receipts have fallen in consequence as shown in enclosure 2.\n\nOn the 27th ultimo I interviewed the members\n\nof the District Watchmen Committee, to which both the Chinese Members of the Legislative Council belong,\n\nand explained to them that the action of the Tramway Company was merely in exercise of their legal right to refuse what is not legal tender and that it therefore had the full support of the Government. The District Watchmen Committee expressed the opinion that the action of the Company, and of the Government in supporting it, was entirely reasonable. On the 29th and 30th ultimo the Registrar-General interviewed the members of the Californian Merchants Guild and the principal\n\nTHE RIGHT HONOURABLE\n\nLEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,\n\n&c.,\n\n&c.,\n\n&c..", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 439589, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "page_number": 81, "title": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "content_text": "HONG KONG\n\nC. D.\n\n634\n\nRECO\n\n68 4773\n\n12 13\n\nREGS 6 JAN 13.\n\nDate.\n\n1912\n\n(6 Dec\n\nLast previous Paper.\n\nBoycott of Low Level Tramway\n\nTestifies to excellent service rendered by\n\nPolice in preserving peace\n\nduring\n\n40743\n\nSw\n\nLu 942\n\nJR 9/1\n\nNext subsequent Paper\n\n2685/17273\n\n49,244). Wt.26,946-17. 40,000. 11/11. A.&E.W.\n\nRIP\n\n9/1\n\nAir\n\nPuth\n\nR18\n\n2/4/13\n\nat", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 439591, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "page_number": 83, "title": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "content_text": "C. O.\n\n81\n\nPay\n\nDate. 1912\n\n16 Qu\n\nLast previous Paper. 684/1/2/3\n\nNext subsequent Paper 94213\n\nHONG KONG\n\nThe 68555\n\nREC? 635\n\nREGES JAN 13,7\n\nBoycott of Low Level Tramway.\n\nReports continuance of-\n\nEncloses for approval draft ordinance conferring on power to levy special rate from which to indemnify\n\nSN/942 R9/1\n\nThe Orda has Amented to operation on the to operate Co hom arrived\n\n# 20k # fir & Anders Jm\n\nNoten Cind: 27/5/13 a is attached. It was Die hot doubt Huff; but (942) shows that the boycott this hope Continuing\n\na short tim ら special ich are t we shall have it cam wih was intendach the fort.\n\n1 8 Jan way then stule apparently failed: the foremon proclaiming levying special later in them under most extraordinary friere f Juansion Lead of hardship [49,244). Wt.26,946--17. 40,000. 11/11. A.&E.W.\n\nlegislation. The inflict a great injustice, a for the west it would be", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 439595, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "page_number": 87, "title": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "content_text": "C. O.\n\n635\n\nGECR\n\nREGE 6 JAN 17.\n\nGOVERNMENT HOUSE,\n\nHONGKONG. 16th December, 1912.\n\n83\n\nSir,\n\nIn continuation of my Despatch marked Confidential of the 2nd instant, I have the honour to report that the boycott of the Low Level Tramway still continues.\n\nEvery effort to induce the influential Chinese to break the boycott has proved unavailing. No reasonable ground is alleged by anyone for continuing it and there is no doubt that the principal supporters of it are the Young China Party referred to in my previous Despatch. The most important and energetic agency of this party in South China is the Sz Yap Association - Sz Yap meaning the \"four districts\" of Sanning, Sanui, Yanping and Hoiping in the South of the Kwangtung Province.\n\nThis Association, composed originally of returned Californian and Australian coolie and artisan emigrants, who though they could often talk fair English could not in most cases write their own names in any language, came into prominence as a reorganization in Hongkong about 1910: and was excellent material ready to the hand of the conspirators against the Manchu Dynasty.\n\nSeizing their opportunities, since the Revolution they have practically ruled Canton, and being entirely unscrupulous have become powerful enough to force important Hongkong merchants from their districts to join their ranks: but the moving spirits for the most part are still men of little or no education, not engaged in commerce and with no interest in the trade of the Colony.\n\nThe Association is viewed...\n\nTHE RIGHT HONOURABLE\n\nLEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,\n\n&c.,\n\nPage 83\n\n(end of page)\n\n(next page starts here)\n\n \nbecomes simply maintaining the original content with minor corrections:\n\nC. O.\n\n635\n\nGECR\n\nREGE 6 JAN 17.\n\nGOVERNMENT HOUSE,\n\nHONGKONG. 16th December, 1912.\n\n83\n\nSir,\n\nIn continuation of my Despatch marked Confidential of the 2nd instant, I have the honour to report that the boycott of the Low Level Tramway still continues.\n\nEvery effort to induce the influential Chinese to break the boycott has proved unavailing. No reasonable ground is alleged by anyone for continuing it and there is no doubt that the principal supporters of it are the Young China Party referred to in my previous Despatch. The most important and energetic agency of this party in South China is the Sz Yap Association - Sz Yap meaning the \"four districts\" of Sanning, Sanui, Yanping and Hoiping in the South of the Kwangtung Province.\n\nThis Association, composed originally of returned Californian and Australian coolie and artisan emigrants, who though they could often talk fair English could not in most cases write their own names in any language, came into prominence as a reorganization in Hongkong about 1910: and was excellent material ready to the hand of the conspirators against the Manchu Dynasty.\n\nSeizing their opportunities, since the Revolution they have practically ruled Canton, and being entirely unscrupulous have become powerful enough to force important Hongkong merchants from their districts to join their ranks: but the moving spirits for the most part are still men of little or no education, not engaged in commerce and with no interest in the trade of the Colony.\n\nThe Association is viewed\n\nTHE RIGHT HONOURABLE\n\nLEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,\n\n&c.,\n\n观\n\nHowever, the last character \"观\" seems out of place and contextually unrelated to the rest of the letter. The proper correction should be focused on the main body of the text.\n\nThe final output is:\nC. O.\n\n635\n\nGECR\n\nREGE 6 JAN 17.\n\nGOVERNMENT HOUSE,\n\nHONGKONG. 16th December, 1912.\n\n83\n\nSir,\n\nIn continuation of my Despatch marked Confidential of the 2nd instant, I have the honour to report that the boycott of the Low Level Tramway still continues.\n\nEvery effort to induce the influential Chinese to break the boycott has proved unavailing. No reasonable ground is alleged by anyone for continuing it and there is no doubt that the principal supporters of it are the Young China Party referred to in my previous Despatch. The most important and energetic agency of this party in South China is the Sz Yap Association - Sz Yap meaning the \"four districts\" of Sanning, Sanui, Yanping and Hoiping in the South of the Kwangtung Province.\n\nThis Association, composed originally of returned Californian and Australian coolie and artisan emigrants, who though they could often talk fair English could not in most cases write their own names in any language, came into prominence as a reorganization in Hongkong about 1910: and was excellent material ready to the hand of the conspirators against the Manchu Dynasty.\n\nSeizing their opportunities, since the Revolution they have practically ruled Canton, and being entirely unscrupulous have become powerful enough to force important Hongkong merchants from their districts to join their ranks: but the moving spirits for the most part are still men of little or no education, not engaged in commerce and with no interest in the trade of the Colony.\n\nThe Association is viewed\n\nTHE RIGHT HONOURABLE\n\nLEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,\n\n&c.,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 441875, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2]", "page_number": 2, "title": "CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2]", "content_text": "# \n## VOL. 1.\n| DATE | NO. | SUBJECT |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 7 Jan | 10 | Limited Partnership Grace. Boycott of Low Level Framway. Frauds & Robberies in Wantung. Boycott of Low Level Framway. Applin from tor W. v. m. Koch. |\n| 10 | 10 | |\n| 10 | 12 | 70 |\n| 10 | bout 15 | |\n| 13 | #1 | 13 |\n| 13 | bout 13 | Let |\n| 14 | 144 | bout 14 |\n| 15 | 16 | 14 |\n| 16 | 25 | 15. |\n| 16 | 16 | 17 |\n| 17 | 21 | 17 |\n| 17 | vont 17 | Jel |\n| 20 | 22 | 17 |\n| 20 | song 20 | Yel |\n| 21 | 23 | 21 |\n| 21 | 21 | 21 |\n| | N° 43 1412. | Final Revision, No 42-1712, Chinese Marriage reservation.. |\n| | | Attitude of Canton Govt. Boycott of Tramway. Rehabilitation of Subsidiary Coinage. Canton Note Issue. Inspector of Stores P.W. sept. Hong Kong Subsidiary Crew. bolno. - for Empress of Russia\". signing of contracts in re chinese Labour for Samoa. Issue of Certificates to Anglo-Chinese Subjects. Chinese Senate. Criminal Miriam Monteith. Case of Sepoy, Ibrahim. Boycott. Second Mistress. Belilios Public school. Assistant Analyst. Memorial from Mr. P. Jacks. Mr. Wodehouse. Deputy Supt. of Police. Prisoner Monteith. Salaries of M. U.W. Grant & M!:3. Janner. Limestone Controversy; Chinese for Service in SS. \"Empress of Russia \" Opium. Land for Recreation Ground for University Students |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 441880, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2]", "page_number": 7, "title": "CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2]", "content_text": "## Hong Kong\n942 \nRey E. Jan 13 \nSor \nTafutmay \n刭 \n1913 \napnay Pod Boycott & Low Level Tramway; \n\nM \nJannay \nLast previous Paper. \nEn/685 14 \nAuro tel. 9 Jan. \n么 \n73 \n\nAsks whether he is authorized to pay Tramway Co $44200 in compensation for losses to 31 Dec last. Is hopeful that boycott will come to an end soon. \n\nMy Saiffen held up to Chan C. \nSi J. Anderson \n\nSee also Gov/685 7 6820: 1 E/685 12/13 the aft on Sor/407402/12 in this arrival. They don't help my case much as the Will is now attaching to bos-168,15. Wt.20 507--52 41.000. 11/12. A.&E.W. \n\nNext subsequent Paper. \n\nfor imposing a ... has not hur sent home yet. This tub however guio wantel. some of the hips for I. Anderson proposed to ask for pill intr our it to basis of assessment of the compensation to what period was be paid, whether pazmen", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 441888, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2]", "page_number": 15, "title": "CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2]", "content_text": "## 4.40 \n\nI \n\n14 \n\n(`.ku Ton 1000% \n\n.TI \n\nciolon 3 oc \n\n(.E. TOMEDI \n\n65 01 ..... $24. \n\nMiki si \n\n(. \n\nTOVIN AL: \n\nMay \n\nTel. \n\n1913 \n\n10 Jan \n\nLast previous Paper. You. 942 \n\nAns? tel : 14 Jan 74 \n\n68,151 \n\nWL.20 607-59 41,000. 11/12. A.E.W. \n\nNext subsequent Paper \n\n2222 \n\n12-10 \n\n1107 \n\nC.O. \n\n1107 \n\nRece (REGE 10 JAN 13 \n\n**Boycott of Low Level Tramway** \n\nGiven amount of receipts required daily & pay working expenses, interest charges, **£% dividend** also average daily receipts for period of boycott 6 to 31 Dec. \n\nProposes you make a statement from Jan. will be dealt with separately. \n\nAndsrum \n\n\"Sight dec is clearly, I think, a mistake for January 9th (til En 1942/13). \n\nWe asked for fall into line on the basis of assessment & compensation; whether it if paid, give rise to other claims - if so, their amount. \n\nI gather that the firm bases his figure of $44,200 on the difference between average receipts for 44 days of boycott & working expenses for the same period. \n\nThe expenses he puts at $1,410, the", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 441994, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2]", "page_number": 121, "title": "CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2]", "content_text": "# \n## Copy of despatch from Governor of Hongkong to Secretary of State for Colonies. Confidential.\n\n**GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 21st November, 1912.**\n\nSIR,\n\nI have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your confidential despatch of the 20th of September on the subject of the subsidiary coinage of Hongkong.\n\n2. You asked for my advice as to what was to be done with the accumulation of subsidiary coins in the hands of the Government and I replied in my telegram of the 22nd of October that I recommended its sale as bullion. You approved this course and the coins that it was desired to sell have been shipped to England.\n\n3. My reasons for my recommendation are that in my view and in that of my advisers it would be a retrograde step to pass the coins again into circulation; while the loss of interest renders it costly to hold them. By passing them into circulation this Government would incur the liability of incurring again and again the loss in discount should the coins find their way back into the Treasury while the liability of eventual redemption would continue.\n\n4. The policy of this Government up to the time when you sanctioned passing again into circulation the subsidiary coin received into the Treasury as revenue, was to withdraw such coins from circulation and to put pressure on the Chinese Government to restrict their issues of small silver coins from the Canton Mint. Had this pressure been successfully applied it is not improbable that the discount on Hongkong and Canton small silver coins would by this time have disappeared.\n\nFailing success in its negotiations with the Chinese Government, this Government has never lost sight of the fact that prohibition of the circulation in the Colony of the Canton coins would be necessary. Without such prohibition it was obvious that in the face of continued issues of Chinese coins and their influx into the Colony the withdrawal of Hongkong coins would be a useless expense as you have described it.\n\n5. Negotiations with the Chinese Government have absolutely failed and there seems no immediate prospect of their taking steps for the reform of their currency. This Government is therefore forced to rely on its own measures to retrieve the difficult situation into which it has drifted through want of forethought in the past.\n\n6. The crux of the problem of rehabilitation is the uncertainty of the amount of Hongkong subsidiary coin put into circulation and still in existence. In my confidential despatch of the 27th of April, 1907,* I estimated the amount at $20,000,000. That was a mere guess. There are no ascertainable facts to base an estimate on. The best opinion now is that my estimate was far too high. With a view to gaining more accurate information I caused the Treasurer to issue to the local Banks and money-changers a Circular, copy enclosed, enquiring what amount of Hongkong subsidiary coin would be offered to Government within the next 2 months if it decided to buy up all the available subsidiary coin in the Colony.\n\n7. The result is that the European Banks offered $30,000 only at 5% discount. These banks hold a total of only $925,000 of which $850,000 is for sale at par only while $45,000 is kept for their own current use. None of the Chinese Banks or money-changers made any offer from which it is inferred that they hold no great stock, but carry on exchange business chiefly from the coins coming in or going out from day to day. In view of these facts I am of opinion that the quantity of Hongkong coin which would flow suddenly into the Colony if prohibition of Chinese coins were resorted to would not be large and that the problem of rehabilitating the subsidiary coinage of this Colony is a much simpler one than it has hitherto been regarded.\n\n* `No. 37 in printed correspondence 1908`.\n\n8. It is even possible that it may be solved without prohibition by discrediting the Chinese coins. With this object in view I have suggested to the Low Level Tramway's Company, the High Level Tramway's Company, and the Star Ferry Company, who are the principal sufferers among European institutions from the discount on subsidiary coins of which they receive large quantities daily in fares, to decline to accept Chinese coins. This they have consented to do on my urgent representations that they shall assist the Government in its efforts to restore the Hongkong coins to par. The innovation was begun on Monday the 18th instant. Precautions were taken by the Police to deal with any attempts at resentment by the population at the refusal of Canton coins. No difficulty occurred and I am glad to say that other establishments are following the example of the three companies mentioned. I enclose an extract from a local newspaper on the subject.\n\n9. The moment is peculiarly opportune for this action and even for the more decided step of prohibition for since I wrote my despatch of the 2nd of August the Canton Government has prohibited the export of their silver coins nominally on the plea of their scarcity but in reality in order to force the use of their notes in the Provinces and in this Colony. They cannot therefore take exception to the action of this Government if it proceeded to co-operate with them by prohibiting the circulation of their coins in the Colony.\n\n10. I shall report further to you the effect of the action taken. In the meantime I am not in favour of dealing with this difficult question in the manner described in the letter to the Treasury of the 13th January which formed an enclosure in your despatch `No. 43` under reply for the reasons indicated in paragraph 6 of that letter and because I think it is possible that a solution may be reached in a simpler manner.\n\n11. I have sent a copy of this despatch to H.M. Minister at Peking.\n\nThe Right Honourable \n**LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,** \n&c., &c., &c.\n\nI have, &c., \n**F. H. MAY,** \nGovernor, &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 443843, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-402 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [7-8]", "page_number": 281, "title": "CO129-402 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [7-8]", "content_text": "## 4: Com \n\n1 \n\n2273 \n\n* \n\nboycotting the High Level Tramways and the Star Ferry Company, \nwhich joined the Low Level Tramway Company \nin refusing to accept anything but legal tender in \nthe payment of fares. I think you will agree that \nit would have been inequitable to have levied a \nspecial rate in these and quite innocent districts in order \nto compensate the Low Level Tramways for losses \nincurred through the action of the inhabitants of a \nwell-defined area of the Colony.\n\nIt was manifest that within that area the non-Chinese population had no share in the boycott. \nTherefore the Chinese population of a very limited area of the Colony were obviously alone concerned. \nAgain it is well known that the Chinese population residing at a certain elevation in the city of Victoria, which rises sharply from the water front, do not use the Tramway at all or use it but little. \nIt could therefore be definitely shown that active participation in the boycott was confined to the Chinese inhabitants of a circumscribed area along the route of the cars.\n\n3. These facts were so evident that they were not disputed by the Chinese who appeared before the Executive Council when the question of levying a special rate was under consideration, and it was the reasonableness and clearness of the contention of the Government that these inhabitants were responsible for the boycott, that induced Chinese landlords and property owners to exert themselves to avoid a tax which their commonsense recognised as equitable. \nThere was in the investigation no room for the corruption of the Police. Their evidence was not necessary as to who", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-402 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [7-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 443851, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-402 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [7-8]", "page_number": 289, "title": "CO129-402 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [7-8]", "content_text": "# **** \n\nWe are faced with a situation similar to that encountered by the Governments of the Straits Settlements and the Philippines in connection with boycotts organised by some of the Chinese Guilds. Similarly, the Government of the Philippines has, within the present year, been confronted with a serious situation caused by the boycott of Japanese trade in Manila by Chinese who, in support of the boycott, coerced members of the Chinese community who handled Japanese goods. \n\nSteps were instituted for the deportation of six ringleaders, well-known Chinese merchants in Manila; but before the proceedings had gone far, Doctor Sun Yat Sen (then in Japan) communicated with the Boycott Organisation Society to the effect that an alliance between China and Japan was possible and that the Japanese Government and people were well-disposed towards the Chinese. He, therefore, advised a cessation of the boycott. This advice was adopted, and the Government of the Philippines was thus not called upon to find a solution to a difficult situation.\n\n## 8. \nDuring the boycott of the Low Level Tramway, I was urged by many, and especially by Chinese, to kill the boycott by the deportation of ringleaders who supported it. I judged, however, that, even if I could get evidence of the complicity of certain individuals reported to me as the principal organisers and supporters of the boycott upon which to bring the question of their deportation before the Executive Council, the deportation of a few members of a community, a large section of which was actively supporting the movement, would be worse than useless. \n\nIt remained, therefore, for me either to look on while a commercial company was humiliated or ruined for daring to demand legal tender in payment of debts due to it, or to devise some means both of saving the \n\nPage 281", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-402 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [7-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 443853, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-402 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [7-8]", "page_number": 291, "title": "CO129-402 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [7-8]", "content_text": "## \n\n283\n\n> 15. step on...\n\nSORC lodged.\n\nThe Police opened the letter, which the woman had intended to post that day, to see if it gave any clue to a plot. The letter was to a relative in Canton. It dealt with many domestic details down to the recent sale of a pig, and concluded with these words:- \"Yesterday my lodger fired a pistol at the Governor of Hongkong and most unfortunately missed him.\"\n\nThe woman had no quarrel with the Hongkong Government or with me, whom she had probably never seen in her life. She merely regretted that I had not been killed, as one might regret that one's terrier had missed a rat in a ditch.\n\nAgain-- Mr. Murray Stewart, whose name will be familiar to you as a prominent Member of Council, soon after the revolution took place, was elbowed off the pavement in Queen's Road into the gutter--not an uncommon experience of European ladies and men in these days--by a half-naked Chinese coolie. There was no Policeman near, and Mr. Murray Stewart very nearly retaliated by knocking the man down. He restrained himself, however, and seeing Mr. Fung Wa-ch'un, one of the leading Chinese at that time in Hongkong, said to him \"Did you see that? I felt inclined to knock that man down.\" To which Mr. Fung replied \"I am glad you did not do so. I might not have been able to save you from the mob that would have at once assailed you. Why, if I were to hold up my hand and call out 'Strike! Strike!' and point to you or any other foreigner, the Chinese coolies in the street would tear you or him limb from limb.\"\n\n...during the Boxer trouble, the Low Level tramway I was using suffered from this animosity myself.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-402 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [7-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 444127, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-403 - Governor Sir May Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1913 [8-10]", "page_number": 124, "title": "CO129-403 - Governor Sir May Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1913 [8-10]", "content_text": "## \n(a) \n(b) \n(c)\n\nFarmer pays him the money because the former Farmer paid it. The present Farmer objected to the payment but finally agreed to make it, as I am informed, to avoid offending Sir K'ai.\n\nThe Pawnbrokers Guild pay Sir K'ai $600 per annum. Sir K'ai is not the legal adviser of the Guild and does no legal work for it. The payment is made, I am informed, because it has been customary to make it and to discontinue it might cause trouble with Sir K'ai.\n\nAn examination of the books of the notorious Sze Yep Association, which was so prominent in the recent boycott of the Low Level Tramway Company, revealed an entry of $200 as retainer to Sir K'ai Ho K'ai. The date of the entry is almost at the very time when the Society was openly defiant of the Government, and was so closely associated with the Government of Canton that it was practically managing that administration from the Colony.\n\nThe Chinese restauranteurs retain him by an annual fee and two dinners. He does no work for them.\n\n3. In the course of the enquiry, the books of all the Registered Societies in the Colony have been examined without the discovery of fees to Sir K'ai except in the instance mentioned in (c). It is quite possible, however, that such fees are not entered in the books and the payments to which I have referred show a strong presumption that the rumour is not without foundation.\n\n4. (1) Sir K'ai Ho K'ai was intimately connected \n\nPage 125", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-403 - Governor Sir May Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1913 [8-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 462803, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-434 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [7-8]", "page_number": 592, "title": "CO129-434 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [7-8]", "content_text": "## $15/2\nIsupa 10 dolata21 [IEK odð at aldaltava asta nedto\n\nis at present accessible. In order to render Abey areas available, a tramway would have to be constructed or other means of mechanical transport would have to be provided, for which either new roads would have to be constructed or existing road would have to be extensively altered.\n\n6. The Medium Levels area (5 acres) is situated near Hatton Road and is about 800 feet above sea-level. It is 1¾ miles distant from the General Post Office and is very unfavourably situated in the matter of transport. A long walk must be taken in order to reach the low level tramway or roads negotiable by jinrikisha. In this case however, the ascent would occur on the homeward journey. Like the Hill District area, houses on it would be badly exposed to the afternoon sun.\n\n7. The Lower Levels area (8 acres) is situated on the top of Leighton Hill. It is 1¾ miles distant from the General Post Office and is about 152 feet above sea-level. It is conveniently situated for the lower level tramway. Some of the houses on it would be badly exposed to the afternoon sun.\n\n8. The Kowloon area (3½ acres) is at the base of the Kowloon range of hills. It lies near the road which runs from Kowloon City, by Po Kong and Chuk On Villages, over the Shatin Pass. It is 4½ miles distant from the Kowloon Ferry, the only means of conveyance available being the jinrikisha.\n\n**(ED.) W. Chatham**, \nDirector of Public Works. \n14. 7. 18.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-434 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [7-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 466361, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-439 - Others - 1916", "page_number": 591, "title": "CO129-439 - Others - 1916", "content_text": "586\n\nGov/40483/12\n\nGov/40743/12.\n\nGov/685/12/13\n\n685/12/14.\n\n4203/13\n\nGov/8860\n\nMr.Collins.\n\nMix Catildes,\n\nIn November 1912 the Hong Kong Government, with a view to checking the depreciation of Hong Kong subsidiary coin, persuaded the Low Level Tramway Company (amongst others) to refuse to accept Chinese subsidiary coin which also circulated in Hong Kong, though not legal tender. The result was that the Chinese organised a boycott of the Tramway.\n\nOn the 26th December the Governor reported by despatch that the boycott continued, that the principal supporters of it were the \"Young China Party\" locally represented by the 'Sz Yap Association' which had gained considerable influence by intimidation in Canton and Hong Kong. The Governor proposed to legislate against the boycott and as a matter of fact passed the Ordinance through Council on the 19th December. The chief point of the Ordinance was that it gave the Governor in Council power to declare \"boycotting areas\" and thereon to levy a special rate on that area from which to compensate sufferers from a boycott.\n\nMr. Harcourt held strongly that this Ordinance should not be allowed to remain in force and the Governor was informed by telegram on the 2nd February 1913 to that effect; he was also instructed that any steps taken to enforce a special rate must be terminated at once. The Governor replied on the 4th February that it had not been necessary to enforce a special rate and that the Ordinance had been suspended as the boycott had ceased. He promised a further despatch, which arrived on the 15th March, urging strongly that the Ordinance should remain", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-439 - Others - 1916.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 466362, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-439 - Others - 1916", "page_number": 592, "title": "CO129-439 - Others - 1916", "content_text": "Cov/30413/13.\n\n587\n\nremain on the Statute Book. The Secretary of state replied\n\n(1) that the special rate provisions could not\n\nin any case be allowed: if compensation were to be paid it was a matter for the whole community.\n\n(2) that exemptions from the special rate for\n\nwhich provision was made would in practice be determined not by the Governor in Council but by the corruption of the Police.\n\n(3) that without these provisions the Ordinance\n\nwould have no practical effect and should not therefore remain in force. Mr. Harcourt however agreed not to insist on repeal till he had examined the reasons which the Governor had desired to adduce against repeal.\n\nOn the 28th July 1913 the Governor wrote\n\na despatch setting forth his reasons,\n\nHe argued that it was inequitable to make people not living in the Low Level district and others not served by the tramway, pay compensation for the boycott; that the non-Chinese population in the district had no share in the boycott and that consequently the boycotters were clearly defined and no question of police corruption\n\narose.\n\nHe pointed out that the Chinese guilds and secret societies could and did terrorise people into continuing to support a boycott: that the Chinese members of Council voted for the Ordinance: that the Ordinance was justified by its success.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-439 - Others - 1916.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 466364, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-439 - Others - 1916", "page_number": 594, "title": "CO129-439 - Others - 1916", "content_text": "Gov/40483/12\n\nGov/40743/12.\n\nGov/685/12/13\n\n635/12/13.\n\n4203/13\n\nGov/8860\n\nSir C. Fiddes,\n\n¡REC\n\n63481\n\nREG 7 NOV 16\n\n589\n\nIn November 1912 the Hong Kong Government, with a view to checking the depreciation of Hong Kong subsidiary coin, persuaded the Low Level Tramway Company (amongst others) to refuse to accept Chinese subsidiary coin which also circulated in Hong Kong, though not legal tender. The result was that the Chinese organised a boycott of the Tramway.\n\nOn the 26th December the Governor reported by despatch that the boycott continued, that the principal supporters of it were the \"Young China Party\" locally represented by the 'Sz Yap Association', which had gained considerable influence by intimidation in Canton and Hong Kong. The Governor proposed to legislate against the boycott and, as a matter of fact, passed the Ordinance through Council on the 19th December. The chief point of the Ordinance was that it gave the Governor in Council power to declare \"boycotting areas\" and thereon to levy a special rate on that area from which to compensate sufferers from a boycott.\n\nMr. Harcourt held strongly that this Ordinance should not be allowed to remain in force, and the Governor was informed by telegram on the 2nd February 1913 to that effect; he was also instructed that any steps taken to enforce a special rate must be terminated at once. The Governor replied on the 4th February that it had not been necessary to enforce a special rate and that the Ordinance had been suspended as the boycott had ceased. He promised a further despatch, which arrived on the 15th March, urging strongly that the Ordinance should remain", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-439 - Others - 1916.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 466365, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-439 - Others - 1916", "page_number": 595, "title": "CO129-439 - Others - 1916", "content_text": "Gov/30413/13.\n\n590\n\nremain on the Statute Book. The Secretary of State replied\n\n(1) that the special rate provisions could not\n\nin any case be allowed; if compensation\n\nwere to be paid it was a matter for the whole community,\n\n(2) that exemptions from the special rate for\n\nwhich provision was made would in practice be determined not by the Governor in Council but by the corruption of the Police. (3) that without these provisions the Ordinance\n\nwould have no practical effect and should not therefore remain in force. Mr. Harcourt however agreed not to insist on repeal till he had examined the reasons which the Governor had desired to adduce against repeal.\n\nOn the 28th July 1913 the Governor wrote\n\na despatch setting forth his reasons.\n\nHe argued that it was inequitable to make people not living in the Low Level district and others not served by the tramway, pay compensation for the boycott; that the non-Chinese population in the district had no share in the boycott and that consequently the boycotters were clearly defined and no question of police corruption\n\narose.\n\nHe pointed out that the Chinese guilds and secret societies could and did terrorise people into continuing to support a boycott: that the Chinese members of Council voted for the Ordinance: that the Ordinance\n\nwas justified by its success.\n\nAs", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-439 - Others - 1916.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 468641, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-443 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [7-9]", "page_number": 404, "title": "CO129-443 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [7-9]", "content_text": "393\n\nSKJ\n\nin\n\narea.\n\n(18)\n\nA\n\n(19)\n\na\n\nthey thought. I suppose, the reasons have come all that has been altered. There is sufficient, but at the same time unanimously they have requested the Government to be so good as to alter somewhat the phraseology of the Bill.\n\nIn Committee I hope I will be able to lay before the Council some suggestions as to the alteration of the Bill which, if found by the Council not objectionable and quite as effective in carrying out the principle of Bill, I hope every member of this Council will consent to un- he can point out a good reason for coming to any other conclusion for the sake of unanimity and for the satisfaction of those Chinese who have so far granted this concession. There was a minority in these meetings who are quite uncompromising, who are dead against the principle of this Bill, and on no account would support a Bill of this kind; but, as the majority have expressed their willingness to fall in with the principle of the Bill should certain terms of the Bill be altered, I think my colleague and myself will be justified in offering no opposition to this Bill.\n\nIn Committee I hope a fair hearing shall be accorded me, and if what I propose as an amendment meet with the approval of the Council I hope that a change in the phraseology will be conceded. With these few remarks I think it is absolutely imperative in the interests of those who suffer from the hot climate that they should have this sanatorium to go to, and therefore I have very much pleasure in supporting this Bill,\n\nHis EXCELLENCY.-Gentlemen, I have listened to the speech of the hon. senior member for whom life in the tropics presents the disadvantage of an unnatural environment.\" Of course, it is known to everyone that all persons of European birth and extraction are liable to suffer and do suffer more or less when they are obliged to live continuously under conditions of temperature, and environment which are to them unnatural - conditions of life such as are to be found in all tropical countries, and which are at all times trying to those who are forced to live in the lower levels of tropical places.\n\nI move that this Bill be now read a second time.\n\nThe COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.\n\nThe Hon. Dr. Ho KAI-Sir, the Bill, the second reading of which has been just moved, has the nature of class legislation, and especially against the Chinese, and, as such, it should be my duty to oppose it in as strong a manner as is possible; but, at the same time, Sir, I have had the reasons carefully explained to me for the necessity of such a Bill. I have considered these reasons very carefully and I must say, I am quite convinced of the reasonableness and expediency of this measure.\n\nThe reason put forward was the limited space for the accommodation of Europeans at the Peak, and that it was necessary for the health of Europeans to live at a height of some hundreds of feet from the level of the sea within which the conditions of healthy life can be found as a rule. We want so many people to live and trade and come here and promote the prosperity of themselves and the country as choose to come.\n\nHaving considered that carefully, I for myself certainly think a concession from the Chinese with a great deal of interest, and we, at the same time, wish and everyone, I think, in this honourable Council, or outside of it, wishes the prosperity of the Colony.\n\nI think, in the interests of this Colony, it affords me a great deal of gratification to find that both he and his colleague are able to support this Bill. When I received the honor Bills to the petition upon which the present petition asking for this legislation I recognised that it was a somewhat delicate subject.\n\nI was glad to consent to a measure by which we know that close crowding which in all countries, but especially so in a tropical country, as this one is, is detrimental to the health and happiness of a large section of the community will be promoted.\n\nThere was no intention at all on the part of the movers in this legislation of introducing anything in the way of class legislation against the Chinese. The grounds upon which we moved were simply and solely the question of the public health.\n\nWe recognised, having had many years' experience of the Chinese, that they are not only a hardworking people, but also a people yielding to reason and common-sense when the matter is thoroughly explained to them.\n\nI relied upon their sound practical common-sense when I authorised the Government in casting about for the introduction of this legislation.\n\nI felt convinced that when the matter was explained to them they would, as the majority of them determined on a locality which has never hitherto been occupied by Chinese.\n\nI think, Sir, that those members of the Council who have been here like myself during the past 16 or 17 years will realise how much the Peak has been developed since the tramway went up there.\n\nYou, Sir, will no doubt realise how impossible it is for us or for the Government even to ascertain the views of the speculative builder, because as the pressure goes on from year to year it may come to pass that houses that have not so far existed there may in future find their way to the Peak.\n\nIt may be that the speculator instead of going over to Kowloon side would go up to the Peak.\n\nThere are no idle drones in this Colony, and a man will work better, for himself first no doubt, but after all in the interests of the Colony in the long run.\n\nI wish to state that the majority have, after three meetings held to consider the Bill, and to say whether they would oppose this Bill or not, decided to offer no opposition to this Bill; when I received the petition from owners of property at the Peak District which shall be free from crowding.\n\nClause 5 enables the Governor in Council to exempt any Chinese from the operation of the ordinance.\n\nHon. WEI YUK-Sir, I beg to say I quite agree with what my senior colleague has been saying, and I beg to support what he has said.\n\nHon. Mr. POLLOCK-Your Excellency, I will, no doubt, say that the best place to choose is the place we have chosen that is the Peak District.\n\nThe Government has therefore decided to ask the Council to pass this Bill.\n\nIt is obvious to anyone who reads the Bill that it does not restrict Chinese from building on the Peak.\n\nThe object is not to prevent Chinese as such from living on the Peak, but to preserve a place that cannot be overcrowded.\n\nIt is unavoidable as far as I can see that the lower levels should be crowded.\n\nIt is due to the fact that the continued influx of Chinese into Hongkong is enormous, attracted here as they are by the fact that they possess security to life and property to a greater extent than can be obtained elsewhere in this part of the East.\n\nWell, Sir, we welcome the Chinese who come here, and we put no limit upon their numbers.\n\nConsequently, it is not possible to reserve within the limits below the line which is ordinarily known as the 700 feet contour say area for the health of Europeans to live at a height of, not only for their own health, but that of their wives and families especially the children, live.\n\nHaving considered that carefully, I for myself certainly think a concession from the Chinese would not only be graceful but justifiable.\n\nIt affords me a great deal of gratification to find that both he and his colleague are able to support this Bill.\n\nWhen I received the honor Bills to the petition upon which the present Bill is founded, I recognised that it was a somewhat delicate subject.\n\nI was glad to consent to a measure by which we know that it is in the interests of this Colony.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-443 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 484826, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-463 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [10-12]", "page_number": 204, "title": "CO129-463 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [10-12]", "content_text": "Council\n\n3\n\nWhilst warmly commending the Government (and especially the Acting Colonial Secretary) for the steps which have been taken for the provision of additional housing accommodation at the Peak, the middle levels, and Kowloon, we have the following criticisms and remarks to make, numbered 1 to 2, respectively:-\n\n1. We trust that the Government will strictly enforce the penalties for non-completion by due date of all houses and flats towards the erection of which the Government has advanced money.\n\n2. We regret that it has not been found possible, in the distribution of the million dollars in loans for building, to allocate some of the moneys to persons who are building for their own occupation, as we consider that owner-occupiers are worthy of every encouragement by the Government, and we venture to express the hope that it may be found possible for the Government shortly to set apart (possibly out of the proceeds of sale of the old Post Office site) a sum of 3 lacs of dollars to assist persons to build houses of modest type and reasonable cost for their own occupation, provided that proper security is given.\n\nWith regard to building development in the neighbourhood of Wanchai Gap, we notice with astonishment that the Hill Tramway to Wanchai Gap, for the construction of which a sum of $150,000 was inserted in the Estimates for 1920 does not figure at all in the Estimates for 1921, and we are at a loss to understand the reason for the omission, as obviously a tram from the low level to Wanchai Gap is an indispensable preliminary to the development of the Mount Cameron District, which cannot be effectively opened up by motor roads only. We presume that the Government has had a survey made of the route of such projected tramway and a rough estimate of the cost thereof, and we should be glad of information on these points.\n\nIn your Budget speech of last year (at Page 90 of \"Hansard\" for 1919) your Excellency referred to this subject as follows:--\n\n\"It has become very desirable to open up new sites for residences in the Hill District. The only part of that District so far entirely undeveloped is Mount Cameron, and provision is made under Item 17 for beginning the construction of a Tramway to Wanchai Gap which will provide a rapid means of access both to Mount Cameron and to the hills between Wanchai and Magazine Gaps.\"\n\n4. We are disappointed to find no reference in your Budget speech to any negotiations with the Military Authorities for the release of the Military lands on Nathan Road, Kowloon. As has been pointed out more than once, sites on that road which are eminently suitable for residences are being occupied by stables for mules.\n\n5. We hope that the Government will do everything in its power to expedite the speedy commencement and vigorous prosecution of the Praya East Reclamation.\n\n6. We trust that the extension of the Ho Mun Tin Colony and the development of the area of land at Kowloon Tong on Garden City lines will be pressed forward by the Government.\n\n7. We also trust that the Government will give its assistance to the Kai Tack Reclamation scheme by pressing on with the inauguration of the Kowloon East Ferry Service and the Motor bus service to Kowloon City.\n\nWith regard to the question of whether there is a shortage of houses in the Colony, there are no houses, so far as we are aware, to let for European occupation in any part of the Colony south of Coronation Road, and it is a well-known fact that the Hotels are so full that passengers arriving here by large steamers are frequently compelled to stay on board.\n\nAs regards the City Expansion of the Colony, we are very glad to note from indications in Your Excellency's speech that the Military Lands Question has taken a decided step forward since the matter was debated in this Council on 29th January last, and we earnestly trust that the Military Authorities will continue to co-operate heartily with the Government of this Colony in expediting the procuring for the trade of this Colony, by which we all live, a much needed area for expanding our office and business accommodation.\n\nIn connection with Harbour Development, we are glad to extend a welcome to Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice, and we hope that his investigations here may result in important developments of the shipping facilities of this Colony.\n\nAs regards commercial wireless, we would ask Your Excellency to appoint a small Committee (which we would suggest should consist of the Colonial Secretary, an Unofficial Member of the Council, and the Commodore or an Officer deputed by him) for the purpose of discussing and reporting on the feasibility of utilizing the Stone-cutter's Island installation for commercial messages during certain portions of the 24 hours, whilst paying due regard to the necessities of His Majesty's Service.\n\nAs regards our finances generally, we would once again urge that it is not fair to the present Colonists that the entire cost of Public Works of a permanent character should be paid for out of current revenue, and we would advocate that short Loans should be raised for such purposes.\n\nSo much, Sir, for the united views of my colleagues and myself on the subject of the Budget.\n\nI am now going to add a few remarks of my own, in which my colleagues do not concur, in regard to one item in the Budget, namely, the proposal to make the motor road from Magazine Gap to Chamberlain Road. In the first place, Sir, I venture to question the necessity for this extension because all those who are living in the neighbourhood of Chamberlain Road can easily take the Tram down to the lower Tram Station, and from there they are in touch with all the other parts of the Colony which are accessible by motor. One argument which I have heard against this contention of mine seems to be too paltry for serious consideration, namely, that the motor-owner, whether he goes east or west, will have to spend ten minutes in travelling through China Town. Another argument which I have heard used is that it will be much pleasanter to travel from the Peak to Repulse Bay over the new projected road entirely on the high levels, instead of starting from below. This argument, though better than the last one, does not, in my opinion, justify the making of an expensive road, while we have in this Colony other urgent public matters requiring not merely the expenditure of revenue but also the services of our none too large Public Works staff.\n\n263", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-463 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 484830, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-463 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [10-12]", "page_number": 208, "title": "CO129-463 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [10-12]", "content_text": "Council 12\n\nrevenue. It has been further proved during the year that what I said at this Council meeting this time last year on the diminishing opium revenue is as true to-day as then. The result of the British Government relinquishing its control of this traffic and handing the revenue, multiplied a hundredfold, to the resourceful smuggler, is the additional work put upon the shoulders of the Police Force in their endeavours to deal with this most intricate ramification of smuggling the world has probably ever known, which extra expense the long-suffering ratepayer has to pay for and, at the same time, make up the deficit in revenue. Some 17 or 18 years ago, when the incoming Liberal party went to the electors of Great Britain on (amongst others) the subject of opium, I recall a conversation with a merchant in this city, and his saying to me; \"Believe me, Mr. Parr, no law will ever prevent the Chinese smoking opium, no more than they will prevent a Britisher drinking beer.\" A period of nearly 40 years has proved what that gentleman said to me then, to be correct. The whole question has served as a convenient political \"stalking horse,\" and the state of affairs is a thousand times worse to-day than it was then, as a consequence. So long as China continues to grow the poppy (and we still read of whole districts under its cultivation) and so long as the smuggling of opium appears to be on the increase in China, I shall continue to urge that the only way to combat the smuggling is for the import of the drug to be controlled by the British Government, as necessary.\n\nAs a member of the Public Works Committee I can vouch for the fact that a considerable amount of useful work has been done in the privacy of that Committee room since its re-arrangements on the lines proposed by your Excellency last year, and it may be of interest for me to state that in considering the past year's estimates for new roads our aim and object has been to open up new building sites along the routes chosen, as much as possible. We urge the Public Works Department to bear in mind during the year the necessity for encouraging as many contractors as possible to start and carry on business so as to keep down the pre-arrangement of prices and help the supply to meet what is expected to be an increasing demand in this respect.\n\nI also agree that the Government bear in mind the expediency of making up deficits by short time loans in local or sterling currency with adequate sinking funds, thus equitably distributing the payment of that development more especially benefiting posterity. Our northern neighbour, Shanghai, has recently been successful in floating a 6 per cent. sterling short time loan of £750,000, this money to be allocated to pay for stores received from Home. I believe this Government would find no difficulty in raising a similar loan or loans at any time of need and that this expediency should be carefully considered before increasing taxation to any large extent. While it is sound policy to spend on development, it is important to remember that the prosperity of the Colony rests on its lightness of taxation in order that the port may remain a cheap distributing centre of trade - if possible, a little cheaper than any rival, present or future.\n\nI notice on page 8 of the Draft Estimates that the scale of fees for the use of buoys is to be revised and I would respectfully point out that when these buoys were appropriated by the Government from the Shipping Companies - in many cases at one third of their then value - they were handed over on the condition that the tariff should not be used as a Government revenue-making concern, but that the fees should be regulated so as to give a fair return on the outlay. We, therefore, view with grave concern the Government's proposal to increase the tariff from $75,000 to $95,000, as the former figure is already well known to give a handsome profit on the outlay. We shall be glad to know if the representative Shipping Companies concerned have, through the Chamber of Commerce, been consulted in this matter. We further wish to point out that any increase in the charges of the port such as this, emigrant fees, etc., vis a vis similar charges at rival ports, bear intimately upon the trade and continued prosperity of the Colony.\n\nWe trust that the proposal for the military to give up the ground around Murray Barracks for building purposes will mature without delay so that these much-needed development schemes may be put in hand and expedited as much as possible. I, personally, am not in favour of spending a large sum of money in continuing the Peak Tramway to the Queen's Road level as such an alteration will only serve to render more expensive still one of the already most expensive tram services, I suppose, in the world. The lower tram station has done very well where it is for some 30 years and this valuable ground can be put to better public use and the money spent to better public advantage than in continuing the Peak tramline to the lower level. The road will, no doubt, be widened as it is already the most extensively used road by motor vehicles in the Colony. Broad pathways will no doubt be made for chair traffic and pedestrians.\n\nThe necessity for more recreation grounds for a growing young community as this Colony mostly consists of, is being felt more every year and I submit, sir, that the solution of this increasingly important matter is that a large space or spaces be levelled and turfed at Kowloon in the more easily get-at-able districts on this side of the hills and that such spaces be served by cheap ferry and tram services. I think I am voicing the sentiments of the general public (British, Chinese, and all denominations alike) when I say that while the Government may be blamed for too little attention in this direction, the importance of the matter so far as it affects the public welfare cannot be over-estimated.\n\nI endorse the Hon. Mr. Pollock's welcome to Sir Maurice FitzMaurice among us and look forward to his report and recommendations for the improvement of our Harbour - our chief asset for the continued prosperity of our port. At the same time we congratulate ourselves on having the benefit of his vast experience, well-known knowledge and sound judgment in this most important matter.\n\nThe introduction of Dianhores and Wireless Position Finders will be much appreciated by the Shipping community using the port. It is right the Colony should lead the way in this and other developments and it is hoped the Chinese Authority will in due course institute these improvements along the China Coast, well known as one of the most crowded shipping thoroughfares of the world.\n\nPage 207", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-463 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 484835, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-463 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [10-12]", "page_number": 213, "title": "CO129-463 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [10-12]", "content_text": "Council\n\n13\n\nfor expense than hitherto. My hon. friend on my left (Mr. Parr) referred to the desirability of encouraging the introduction of new contractors. If any contractor can show me that he has some experience of work and has carried out successfully works elsewhere, I am always ready to include his name in the list of contractors eligible for tendering for Government works. The hon. member also mentioned in a casual way the desirability of utilising level spaces to the south of the Kowloon hills for recreation purposes.\n\nI would be glad if he would show me where these level spaces are unless he refers to the swampy places lying to the right and left of the Taipo Road near Taikoktsui. There are practically no level spaces that I am aware of at Kowloon that can be rendered available for recreation purposes without the expenditure of a considerable sum of money.\n\nH.E. THE GOVERNOR.\n\nH.E. THE GOVERNOR-Honourable gentlemen-Before proceeding to refer to one or two points which have not been referred to either by the Director of Public Works or the Colonial Secretary, I should like to say how much I, as Head of the Government, appreciate the remarks of the member for the Chamber of Commerce with regard to our three colleagues here; but I would also like to say that we shall get much more work from Mr. Chatham in this Council before he retires; otherwise I myself would have referred to his retirement. With regard to the Cadet Service, the senior unofficial member asked for information on the subject of the efficiency bars and generally on the question of the general scheme of payment by seniority instead of by posts. The position is that in such a small service as this it is extremely difficult to fit the right man into the right post because the man who is an expert police magistrate may be the senior man in his class and under the old system when a post such as that of Postmaster-General or Treasurer fell vacant you had to promote the senior man to the post whether he were the best adapted to the work or not, while there might be a junior officer who would prove an extremely good man for the post. That is not a very satisfactory position. Another objection to the late system of classification was that promotion in a small service like this was very uneven. A man might be kept back from promotion for quite a long time because his seniors remained in office and it was extremely hard for a man to be kept in one class for ten to twelve years before he could get promotion. I came to the conclusion, and the Secretary of State agreed, that the fairer and better course would be to pay a man on the plan now adopted so as to be certain you can employ a man to the best advantage and put him into the post for which he is most fit. That involves the abandoning of the system of classification. There is a danger under this system, of course, that you must always be prepared to get a man who is content to do the minimum amount of work which will enable him to draw his increments. There is no reason why you should allow a man to proceed from top to bottom of the scale doing only a minimum amount of work, enough to make sure of his increments. For this reason two halting places have been made one at £600 and one at £900 and only men who are considered really worth higher pay will draw increments beyond these figures. I think that is the only satisfactory solution, and under this scheme really good men will get promotion. In connection with that subject the hon. member drew attention to the fact that in the Estimates certain departments showed blanks, e.g., on page 17. The reason for that is partly this change in classification but in any case it was thought desirable to place the Cadet Service under a separate head for convenience of accounting. This system is followed by the Federated Malay States and Ceylon after considerable experience in trying to make things clear. It has the disadvantage of not enabling anybody to see at a glance the total cost of a department, but I guarantee nobody has been able to ascertain what the total cost of a department was in Hongkong under the other system. An officer put into a department as a substitute would draw part of his pay from one department for his previous position and part from the department in which he was temporarily placed, and this gave a very considerable amount of annoyance to accounting officers, as the hon. Colonial Treasurer will tell you. I can see that at first sight it looks rather curious to find all departments given in the Estimates without any heads, but I am sure when you get used to the system you will agree with me that it is more satisfactory.\n\nthe\n\nWith regard to what the hon. member has said with regard to Magazine Gap Road, I confess to a certain amount of sympathy with the hon. member; and may say this is one of the points on which I differ from some of my official colleagues. I think, however, some of the fears expressed by the hon. member are rather unnecessary. I do think the road is desirable. It will open up new sites and will relieve the intolerable congestion on the Peak Tramway, at least we hope so. The Peak Tramway will, we hope, be improved, and that is one reason that the Colonial Secretary has given why the Wanchai Tramway has been dropped for the moment, but it certainly will take some time before the improvement of the tramway is possible and meanwhile I think it is highly desirable that the road should be provided to relieve the congestion. I think the danger to children is slightly exaggerated. The roads have many uses but playgrounds for children is not one of them. There is no serious danger to children if they are properly looked after. The road will be 20ft. wide, and we are not depriving the children of any roads they have habitually used because the road is practically on a new line.\n\nHon. Mr. POLLOCK-There are very important parts of the road, sir, which will disturb the present road that the children now use in going to the playground and for walks. This road will not, as far as I am aware, open up any new sites.\n\nThe DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-I do not think it will open up many.\n\nH.E. THE GOVERNOR-If the new road had opened up any big number of sites I would have had no hesitation whatever in recommending it, but the fact that it will open up any sites at all is sufficient justification for the opening of the road. The provision of an alternative route to the Peak is also one of importance. With regard to the disturbance of the peace and quiet of the Peak, I do not think there is serious danger of night being made hideous by a continual stream of cars racing over the Peak all night. Is there not a time limit, after which hired motor cars\n\n212", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-463 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 488669, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-469 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [9-12]", "page_number": 410, "title": "CO129-469 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [9-12]", "content_text": "## COST OF BUILDING\n\nThe present cost of building is a subject which deserves more than a passing consideration, and I believe the Government could do something to help the public in this matter. There was a Societies Ordinance which prohibited the formation of trade societies without permission. That Ordinance was repealed, I understand, some time last year, and since then any number of societies have been formed in the building trade, all of which tend to increase the price of building and to keep new workmen from settling down in the Colony. To give an example, I am credibly informed that any scaffold builder arriving in the Colony has to join the bamboo workers' guild, and has to pay an entrance fee of $30. Now it will be readily understood that few men in that station of life have $30 to spend in joining a guild; consequently new scaffold workers do not arrive, and this applies to other trades as well. I would ask the Government to replace the Societies Ordinance on the Statute Book.\n\n## DUMPS FOR BUILDING MATERIALS\n\nI was glad to see in the estimates a sum provided for a landing stage opposite Wing Wo Road, which is designed to be used as a temporary dump for building materials on landing. This will be welcomed by the contractors for they were always being harried by the police and fined for dumping materials on the Praya when landed from junks. One may be sure that the contractor takes this into account when making his tender and it is one of the items that goes towards increasing the cost of building.\n\nAnother item which often is costly to the building owner is the disposal of surplus spoil during the formation of a site, and I would ask the Government to give more assistance in this matter and not impose such drastic conditions when any permit is granted. It is to be noticed when the Government builds a road the spoil is allowed to be dumped over the side apparently without let or hindrance - any private owner doing so is immediately mulcted in a fine. The matters I have mentioned if sympathetically dealt with would go far to help to reduce the cost of building in the Colony.\n\n## THE NEEDS OF THE SMALL SALARIED MAN\n\n402\n\nReverting once more to the Housing Problem it would seem that the most urgent need at the moment is to provide accommodation for the small salaried man, that is to say, small houses with gardens easily accessible are required at a rental of from $50 to $60 a month, including taxes; and I still maintain that the removal of the Dairy Farm is the solution of the problem. The tramway to Wanchai Gap will not help matters because the cost of building at that level is too high; also the sites (save a very few) would not be ready-made and access to same would be costly. I would be the last person in the Colony to wish to interfere with the Dairy Farm Company's activities or to stunt its growth in any way, because I fully realize what a tremendous asset it is to the Colony, but I cannot and will not believe that it would fail to flourish elsewhere. It will take time and trouble but I feel sure that sooner or later its removal must come about. The Government Servants are now being provided with good houses at low rentals, and, as the Senior Unofficial Member said, it is to be hoped that the present programme will complete the supply as far as the Peak is concerned. Many of the firms have purchased houses for their staff and are letting them at reasonable rents, but apparently no provision is being made for the men to whom reference has been made, and whilst it would seem that accommodation on this side is preferable on account of accessibility, if...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-469 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 491487, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-474 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1922 [1-4]", "page_number": 28, "title": "CO129-474 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1922 [1-4]", "content_text": "1 \n\n- 6 -- \n\nINTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS. \n\nAs the life of Hongkong centres round the harbour its internal communications are largely by water. Regular ferry services cross the harbour in various directions, and in addition there is a large fleet of launches owned by commercial firms, and numerous motor boats, sampans, etc., plying for hire. \n\nOn the island there is an electric tram service, the lines running along the south side of the harbour for practically the whole length of the island; the steepness and proximity of the hills renders any lateral development of this system impossible. \n\nThere is also a funicular tramway running from the lower levels up to the residential areas on the Peak, the upper terminus being at a level of 1,300 feet. \n\nThere is a plentiful supply of rickshas and sedan chairs, \n\nDuring the last few years it has been the policy of the Government to develop the outlying portions of the Colony by the making of roads suitable for motor traffic, and many new areas are being rendered suitable for residential purposes in this way. \n\nThe extension of suitable roads has led to a large increase in the use of motor cars and, more recently, of motor buses both on the island and on the mainland, \n\nThe establishment of an electric tramway system on the mainland is now under consideration. \n\nNATURAL RESOURCES. \n\nThe mineral resources of the New Territories appear to be valuable but little has actually been done towards their development. Iron, tin, wolfram and lead have been found in useful quantities and promise well for those who are interested in their production, but coal and limestone have not at present been found in workable quantities and this has tended to hamper development. \n\nThe demand for tungsten during the war led to the discovery of tungsten ores in the New Territories and in adjoining parts of China, but with the end of the war interest in these seems to have completely ceased. It is quite possible that other minerals may yet be discovered in the New Territories. A proper geological survey of this district, which is contemplated, should well repay the cost which it would involve, besides being of general scientific interest. \n\nThe Colony's greatest asset from the point of view of the development of industries is the practically inexhaustible supply of labour from the neighbouring districts of China. \n\nAGRICULTURAL. \n\nAgriculture is almost entirely in the hands of the Chinese. The staple crop is rice of which two harvests each year are obtained in the better low-lying lands and one in places where the water supply is not so abundant. Ground-nuts and sugar-cane are also grown on the higher cultivated lands. The land on the whole is poor and cannot compete with the rich lands of the Canton Delta where plentiful crops of fruit \n\nsuch as oranges, bananas, lichees, pumelos, and other crops such as tobacco, mulberries for the feeding of silk worms, palm leaves for the making of fans, etc., are produced. \n\nScientific research might do much to improve the standard of agriculture in the Colony and in South China generally, but so far little has been done in this direction with the exception of the experiments carried out at the experimental garden of the Botanical and Forestry Department at Sheung Shui and by Sir Robert and Lady Ho Tung on their large farm at Fanling in the New Territories. \n\nEfforts to improve the quality of locally grown fruits are being made by the Botanical and Forestry Department, which maintains an experimental garden at Sheung Shui where such fruits as improved Pineapple, Custard apple, Banana, Fig are grown under scientific methods of culture. \n\nEnglish vegetables and salads are also grown, with the idea of inducing the local market gardeners to take up the growing of these commodities by the latest methods. \n\nThere is a great demand for a higher grade of fruit and vegetables among the European population, but up to the present local growers are able to find a ready sale for the low-grade fruits and vegetables produced, so that little attention is paid to improved methods of fruit and vegetable growing, \n\nThe experimental garden is open at all times to visitors and all plants and trees are labelled in English and Chinese. \n\nThe only large agricultural enterprise managed by Europeans is that of the Dairy Farm Company. This Company has imported a large stock of foreign cattle and affords the Colony an excellent supply of fresh milk. It imports and breeds pigs for local consumption. \n\nThere are a few smaller dairy companies chiefly managed by Chinese and Indians. \n\nMuch might be done by the application of scientific methods to improve the live stock of the Colony, consisting principally of pigs, poultry, and cattle in that order of importance. The establishment of a Government Experimental Station in the New Territories for this purpose has been suggested. \n\nFORESTRY. \n\nThe hills of Hongkong and of the New Territories are composed for the most part of weathered granite and other igneous rocks and are covered with coarse grass. Very few trees exist except in the neighbourhood of certain villages, where the woods have a semi-religious significance, and in places where plantations of pines have been made by Government. \n\nThere is ample evidence of the economic possibilities of forestry, but little can be done on a large scale without the sympathy and co-operation of the villagers, which it is now the policy of the Government to enlist. \n\nAs in all forestry work it is necessary to look to the future and not to expect quick returns. \n\n26", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-474 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1922 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 495063, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-480 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [4-7]", "page_number": 82, "title": "CO129-480 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [4-7]", "content_text": "80\n\n1\n\n1\n\n...\n\n(vi)\n\nGLS OU SAID 138\n\n...\n\n79.13\n\n...\n\n•pátiaan vitastreç ed Jon blwoda\n\n...\n\nyilanosnog oval 1 „danq atas (27 sted mo gniog moed aad e kuci dom svaq hte nilia ent to vrai boog s revo bedst Lo İNGİSİLƏ-DON Na nakat sď yau di basatia sidatium vilA@T data ed Jostao doids anteque has wodal to tasome na dưodikw omane mods me ve Joa bisow dolche baa,betzaitse tietamİXOTĘQS „moitibano útlæed boog\n\n...\n\nSite B has the advantage of being level, spacious, accessible and exposed to the prevailing winds in summer, but it would probably be eventually surrounded by Chinese dwellings and it will in any case be several years before the immediate hinterland would be drained and rendered healthy. This site would also be expensive, as it is a private enterprise.\n\nSite C. I consider to be probably the best available.\n\nA level plateau for the barracks would be formed by cutting down the southern spur to the 150' contour, part of the material being used to fill in the nullahs and remainder dumped in the Bay to form a reclamation. The latter, it should be noted, is already projected by the Colonial Government as part of the general scheme of development. It would be a fairly big undertaking, but by no means impracticable.\n\nThe total area proposed to be acquired is about 357 acres, together with 18 acres of reclamation. Excellent elevated sites are available for married quarters. The reclamation would provide suitable sites for Ordnance and Supply establishments, and for sea bathing. The railway will eventually have a branch line to Lai Chi Kok, and a tramway will run along the new sea front. Water supply, drainage, lighting and communications present no difficulties. Water transport would be easy and inexpensive. The low-lying ground above the foreshore would be raised, affording about 25 acres for recreation grounds etc.\n\nThe northern portion of the area proposed to be acquired would offer facilities for training and no special difficulty is anticipated in obtaining a rifle range near at hand. It is essential to acquire a considerably larger area than is actually required for barracks in order to preserve the site from speculative enterprise.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-480 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [4-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 500680, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-489 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Sir Clementi - 1925 [8-12]", "page_number": 392, "title": "CO129-489 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Sir Clementi - 1925 [8-12]", "content_text": "# HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\nWe therefore hope your appeal to the Secretary of State that the heavy sums expended on these launches, by the Colony, should be repaid to us by the Admiralty since they were incurred in connection with the suppression and prevention of piracy which is and always has been considered essentially the work of the Navy.\n\n## THE FUTURE\n\nI am one of those, Sir, who have absolute faith, that, notwithstanding temporary setbacks, this Colony has a far greater future ahead of it than anything it has known in the past. Your whole administration here proves that you too have held that view and you have impressed us all by your wide views of the future and liberal preparation therefor. Someday we hope Lady Stubbs and you will be able to re-visit Hongkong and see the realised plans and visions of to-day.\n\nHON. MR. CHOW SHOU SON - Sir,—My honourable senior colleague has fully and ably represented the collective views of the unofficial members on the Budget, and it now remains for me to touch upon a few points affecting the Chinese alone.\n\n### HAWKERS' LICENCES\n\nMy Chinese colleague and I strongly urge that the number of hawkers' licences should not be further reduced. Last year I drew the attention of the Government to the matter, and I then said that in view of the urban area having recently been greatly extended, the number of licences might safely be somewhat increased. I also said that one effect of too drastic a restriction was to lead boys to break the law by hawking without a licence, as they must support themselves or assist their parents: and another effect, a much worse one, was to drive such boys into the streets, to get into mischief soon or late. We hope that the reduction in the estimates by $10,000 is due to causes other than the intended reduction of these licences.\n\n### POLICE FORCE\n\nI desire, on behalf of the Chinese community, to associate ourselves with Your Excellency's commendation of the splendid work of the Police Force. They must have passed through very difficult times, and they have discharged their arduous duties with tact and efficiency. The work of our Volunteers and Police Reserves was also valuable, and has been much appreciated by the community.\n\n### VERNACULAR EDUCATION\n\nI understand that while I was in England the Hon. Mr. R. H. Kotewall took up with the Government the question of improving our system of vernacular education; and it is a great satisfaction to me to see that provision has been made in these estimates for the establishment of a Vernacular Middle School at Shaivingpun. It is the opinion of many Chinese who have made some study of the subject, that there should be a graduated system of schools reaching up from the vernacular school to the Chinese middle school, and on to an enlarged and improved department of Chinese study in the University. In such a system great stress should, we think, be laid on the ethics of Confucianism which are, in China, the greatest force for good. Any money which the Government may spend in this direction would, in our opinion, be money well spent, and also constitute social insurance of the best kind.\n\n### THE COLONY'S VITALITY\n\nIn presenting the Budget, Your Excellency asked for the support of the unofficial members for your policy of economy. I need hardly say that my Chinese colleague and I support Your Excellency most heartily. Last year, when the estimates were before this Council, we urged that strict economy should be exercised in all directions, so that, as I said at the time, when the rainy day came, as it was bound to come soon or late, we might be able to face the financial situation with equanimity. But our advocacy of thrift does not mean that we have lost faith in the Colony. Like our English colleagues, the Hon. Mr. Kotewall and I are firm believers in the Colony's vitality and its future. We believe that the cloud which is temporarily darkening our sky will, and must, one day roll away, when the sun will again smile upon a happy day.\n\n## HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\nIn conclusion, I should like to congratulate Your Excellency upon the very able manner in which you have presented to us what must be one of the most difficult Budgets that a Governor of this Colony has been called upon to prepare. I sincerely hope that you will soon have the gratification and pleasure of seeing that your policy in regard to finances has been completely justified by results. As this will be the last occasion on which the Hon. Colonial Secretary will be associated with our Budget, I should also like to take this opportunity to express appreciation of the courtesy and ability with which he, both as Colonial Secretary and as Officer Administering the Government, always participated in the discussions in connection with the subject.\n\nHON. MR. H. W. BIRD - Sir, I wish to endorse fully the remarks that have fallen from the Acting Senior Unofficial Member who has dealt with the larger matters at issue. As regards my further comments, they represent my personal views which may or may not have the approval of my colleagues.\n\n### LICENCES\n\nUnder the heading of Licences, I suggest that the Government should bring pressure to bear so that the ferry service to Kowloon, Yaumati, and Shau Sui Po, is run considerably later at night. The Chinese are notorious for keeping late hours, and one of their reasons for not residing in the suburbs is the difficulty of transport. These remarks apply equally to the low-level tramway; if the trams and ferries were arranged to run up till 2 o'clock in the morning, I feel sure the strain on the housing accommodation in the centre of the City would be found to be considerably relieved. One cannot expect people to live in the outlying districts unless transportation is made easy for them.\n\n### LAND SALES\n\nRegarding the Building Covenants with respect to Land Sales which may be falling due for fulfilment, I would suggest that, in view of the tightness of money at the moment, owners should be dealt with leniently and extended time given for completion. It seems to me a wiser policy to have the Building Covenant carried out even at a somewhat later date than to re-enter on the land.\n\n### FIRE BRIGADE\n\nI infer, Sir, from your remarks in your speech that you consider the personnel of the Fire Brigade to be sufficient. In view of the fact that the work of the Brigade is practically divided in two by the Harbour, and that fires afloat have also to be dealt with, I regret that my views do not coincide with your Excellency's. One Superintendent and two Station Officers are estimated for, presumably one for Hongkong and one for Kowloon; besides these, there are 10 Sub-Officers who, I understand, are not Europeans. Should the Station Officer be sick, the control of a fire must be taken over by one of these Sub-officers.\n\n### POLICE\n\nUnder this Section, there appears to be no item of expenditure in connection with the upkeep of the essential services \"register\". May be it is covered by some other charges. If this is not the case, I would urgently request that this register be kept continually up to date, and I feel sure that, in view of the crisis through which we have passed, employers of labour will gladly afford all the assistance possible by supplying the information required. Nothing can be truer than the adage \"to be prepared for war is the best security for peace,\" and I know from personal experience what an asset that register was of late, and if continually kept up to date, it can be even more so should circumstances require its use again in the future. Whilst on this subject, may I specially endorse my honourable Colleague's remarks on the good work lately performed by all the volunteer workers - Military, Police, and Civilian alike.\n\n### MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES\n\nUnder Miscellaneous Services are to be found various sums allocated for a number of highly useful purposes, and I would suggest that the Government...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-489 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Sir Clementi - 1925 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 500695, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-489 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Sir Clementi - 1925 [8-12]", "page_number": 407, "title": "CO129-489 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Sir Clementi - 1925 [8-12]", "content_text": "# HON. MR. H. W. BIRD.\n\nHon. Mr. H. W. BIRD: Sir, I wish to endorse fully the remarks that have fallen from the Acting Senior Unofficial Member who has dealt with the larger matters at issue. As regards my further comments, they represent my personal views which may or may not have the approval of my colleagues.\n\n## LICENCES.\n\nUnder the heading of Licences, I suggest that the Government should bring pressure to bear so that the ferry service to Kowloon, Yaumati, and Sham Sui Po, is run considerably later at night. The Chinese are notorious for keeping late hours, and one of their reasons for not residing in the suburbs is the difficulty of transport. These remarks apply equally to the low-level tramway; if the trams and ferries were arranged to run up till 2 o'clock in the morning, I feel sure the strain on the housing accommodation in the centre of the City would be found to be considerably relieved. One cannot expect people to live in the outlying districts unless transportation is made easy for them.\n\n## LAND SALES.\n\nRegarding the Building Covenants with respect to Land Sales which may be falling due for fulfilment, I would suggest that, in view of the tightness of money at the moment, owners should be dealt with leniently and extended time given for completion. It seems to me a wiser policy to have the Building Covenant carried out even at a somewhat later date than to re-enter on the land.\n\n## FIRE BRIGADE.\n\nI infer, Sir, from your remarks in your speech that you consider the personnel of the Fire Brigade to be sufficient. In view of the fact that the work of the Brigade is practically divided in two by the Harbour, and that fires afloat have also to be dealt with, I regret that my views do not coincide with your Excellency's. One Superintendent and two Station Officers are estimated for, presumably one for Hong Kong and one for Kowloon; besides these, there are 10 Sub-Officers who, I understand, are not Europeans. Should the Station Officer be sick, the control of a fire must be taken over by one of these Sub-officers.\n\n## POLICE.\n\nUnder this Section, there appears to be no item of expenditure in connection with the upkeep of the \"essential services\" register. Maybe it is covered by some other charges. If this is not the case, I would urgently request that this register be kept continually up to date, and I feel sure that, in view of the crisis through which we have passed, employers of labour will gladly afford all the assistance possible by supplying the information required. Nothing can be truer than the adage \"to be prepared for war is the best security for peace,\" and I know from personal experience what an asset that register was of late, and if continually kept up to date, it can be even more so should circumstances require its use again in the future. Whilst on this subject, may I specially endorse my honourable Colleague's remarks on the good work lately performed by all the volunteer workers -- Military, Police, and Civilian alike.\n\n## MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES.\n\nUnder Miscellaneous Services are to be found various sums allocated for a number of highly useful purposes, and I would suggest that the Government...\n\nPage 402", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-489 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Sir Clementi - 1925 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 504650, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12]", "page_number": 519, "title": "CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12]", "content_text": "26\n\nproperty and trade to the utmost, but, although the Yunnanese were short of ammunition, being better soldiers than the Cantonese, he hoped they might win through.\n\nThese Yunnanese troops are mercenary forces recruited from Yunnan by the late Sun Yat Sen, who, in order to keep them loyal, granted them monopolies of certain revenues in Canton. The Cantonese desired to regain control of these revenues.\n\nC. C. Wu, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, went to Swatow and enlisted the services of General Hsu Chung Chi to lead the Cantonese army against the Yunnanese. Hostilities opened on the 6th June, and on the 13th June the Yunnanese were defeated and were fleeing from the city. Any unfortunate Yunnanese who were left behind were ruthlessly massacred by the mob; many of these atrocities were committed on the Shaki Bund, close to the French bridge leading on to the Shameen.\n\nThe general strike in Hong Kong and South China ports commenced on Saturday, the 20th June, when the different labour guilds decided to call a strike. It is known that the vast majority of the workers in Hong Kong were averse to leaving work, but were intimidated into doing so by threats to themselves and their families.\n\nThe first movement of the strike in Hong Kong was made by the senior students of Queen's College, who absented themselves on the 18th June. Meantime, nervous Chinese, anticipating trouble and rises in prices of food-stuffs, began to leave the colony for Canton; household servants left their employment one by one.\n\nThen it became evident that matters had reached a head.\n\nOnwards from Saturday, the 20th June, the following classes of workers began to come out:\n\nJune 20.-Some cargo-carrying coolies.\n\n21.-Electric Tramway Company drivers and conductors; some crews of ocean-going and coastal boats.\n\n22.-Chinese crew of steamship \"Empress of Asia\"; printers and compositors of newspapers; butchers and pork staff coolies.\n\n23.-Crews of motor-boats; employees of roast pork stalls and shops and cooks in restaurants; boys, cooks and amahs in employment of Europeans; poultry-stall employees; shoemakers; tailors.\n\n24.-Clerks and office-boys of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's and some other European firms; employees in beef and mutton stalls; bakers.\n\n25.-Coal coolies; tallymen and other workmen employed at Kowloon godowns; clerks and office-boys in European firms who received threatening letters; fish-stall and vegetable-stall employees.\n\n26.-Lift-boys employed by European firms.\n\n27.-Seamen and engineers in some river steamers; \"Star\" Ferry Company's crews and staff; launches' crews; furniture makers; additional motor-boats' crews; silversmiths; clog makers; tea-box makers; Imports and Exports Guild coolies; carpenters.\n\n29.-Employees of fruit dealers; waiters in tea-houses.\n\n30.-Meter readers and meter workers of Electric Light Company.\n\nThe \"Star\" ferries were taken over by naval ratings, who were later relieved by civilians from amongst the officers and engineers of the China coast mercantile marine. Launches for essential harbour services were manned by naval ratings and volunteer Europeans.\n\nThe Hong Kong police received information on the 22nd June that ten of the leading strike agitators were Bolsheviks. Some of them have been to Russia this year, and it is reported that the Russians have given 600,000 dollars to the various labour unions in Hong Kong and Canton to go on strike. Eight of these were executive officers of the Chinese Seamen's Union. It is also reported that some members of the Dare-to-Die Society have been or will be sent down from Canton to set fire, throw bombs, &c.\n\nA proclamation mobilising the Hong Kong volunteers for actual military service was issued by the Hong Kong Government; emergency regulations were introduced for the protection of life and property and the safeguarding of food supplies; rewards were offered for the apprehension of persons disturbing the peace of the colony; food, labour and transport controllers and a censor were appointed; special constables were enlisted, and the loyal public were generally called upon to render such assistance as is necessary to the life of the colony; military guards were posted at vital points, and naval and military demonstrations were organised; naval ratings were detailed for all dockyard essential services, if required, the running of the electrical installation at Hong Kong, and manning and running of the harbour ferry service.\n\nCanton.\n\nA monster demonstration was organised to take place at Canton on the 23rd June. It was learned that a procession would march round the city, not as a mark of sympathy with the Shanghai students, but as an outward profession of anti-foreignism. The consul-general, Canton, sent a very strongly-worded letter of warning to C. C. Wu, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. In this despatch, he warned Wu that his Government must see that the procession was orderly.\n\nThe following is the report of the senior naval officer, West River, of the events of the 23rd June:-\n\n\"Commander Scott to Commodore, Hong Kong.\n\n\"Sir,\n\nH.M.S. Tarantula, at Canton, June 24, 1925.\n\n\"I have the honour to report that all Chinese employees on Shameen were called out on strike on Sunday morning, the 21st June. Launches' crews remained until the evening.\n\n\"On Sunday, the 21st June, the outlook for Shameen if trouble developed was not at all reassuring. The back creek was full of sampans and the water-level high.\n\n\"It was most important to get the creek clear, and the Chinese police promised to do so. They, however, did nothing, and next day the vice-consul called on Tscheu Wa, the Commissioner of Police, who at once, and in his presence, gave the order to have the creek cleared.\n\n\"Still, however, nothing was done, and it became obvious that the Chinese authorities would not do so. I refrained from clearing it by force because of the great danger of precipitating trouble and giving the authorities a handle.\n\n\"On this day, the Shameen special police were placed under my orders, and I landed two Lewis gun detachments under command of officers, and placed one by the British bridge and one at the north-west corner of Shameen.\n\n\"News was received that evening that a monster demonstration would pass Shameen next day, and threats of attacking Shameen were made. C. C. Wu (Foreign Secretary) was seen by the vice-consul that day and again warned of their responsibilities; he rather ridiculed the idea, and said he knew nothing of any demonstration.\n\n\"I arranged to land our complete defence force for Shameen next day directly we got any definite news of the demonstration taking place. The night was quiet.\n\nAbout 10 A.M. on Tuesday, the 23rd, the demonstrators were seen assembling, and the defence scheme was put into force. As the naval parties and the Shameen special police took up their posts, they were hidden away as much as possible. My orders were that fire was only to be opened as a last resource if attacked.\n\n\"In the event of a few hot-heads trying to storm the gates or cross over to Shameen by means of any of the many sampans, our men were to come out on to the bund and push them back again with rifle-butts, &c., but not to fire unless I gave the order and in the case of extreme necessity.\n\n\"The procession started to pass about 2:30 P.M., many thousands taking part, carrying the usual banners, &c. A few unarmed Chinese police were stationed outside the two bridges, and at the last moment, a few armed soldiers were distributed along the far pavement about 50 yards apart. Everybody, except the consul-general and myself and four or five others, kept out of sight, and our side of the creek appeared empty to onlookers. We took up our position alongside the British bridge.\n\n\"All went peacefully, in fact peculiarly so, for some time till, at last, the doubtful element-viz., the students-appeared.\n\nBehind them came a large number of soldiers fully equipped. I could not see how far they extended, but understand they covered about half a mile of ground.\n\n\"When the head of the students' contingent had just passed the British bridge, they halted. I noticed a man with the usual Red emblems get up on the coaming just opposite us. He waved to others farther down and there was some commotion in the nearest side street. A few moments afterwards, the leading soldiers suddenly opened out; their head was then opposite the Victoria Hotel,\n\n[14166]\n\nE 2\n\n501", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 521471, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-520-7 Public Utility companies- acquisition by foreign groups 4-12-1929 - 26-1-1930", "page_number": 166, "title": "CO129-520-7 Public Utility companies- acquisition by foreign groups 4-12-1929 - 26-1-1930", "content_text": "No\n\nSECRET:\n\n6 JAN 1930\n\nCOPIES OFF!\n\n/190\n\nGOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONG KONG\n\n4th December, 1929.\n\nMy Lord,\n\nI have the honour to report that this Colony has received a visit from the representatives of the American Syndicate who recently purchased the Shanghai Municipal Electricity Undertaking at the very high figure of $80,000,000.\n\nCopy Transport Agency\n\nIt is understood that these gentlemen inspected the two electric power stations of this Colony, one of which supplies the power for the low-level tramway system on the island as well as for the Peak Tramway, and there are rumours that they are considering the purchase of these undertakings.\n\nHon 51506/28 Genl & 61290/29 Genl.\n\n2. A proposal of a similar nature with regard to the Hong Kong Telephone Company is dealt with in Mr. Amery's confidential despatch of the 10th of January, 1929, and my reply dated the 23rd of March, 1929.\n\n3. This Government naturally views the possible\n\nTHE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD PASSFIELD,\n\n&c., &c., &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-520-7 Public Utility companies- acquisition by foreign groups 4-12-1929 - 26-1-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 528260, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-531-10 Hong Kong University- encouragement of Chinese students to counteract American influence 30-5-1931 - 1-9-1931", "page_number": 217, "title": "CO129-531-10 Hong Kong University- encouragement of Chinese students to counteract American influence 30-5-1931 - 1-9-1931", "content_text": "# 292\n\n102\n\nWithout going too much into detail it may be useful to take a general survey of those sections of the tariff which are of most interest to British manufacturers and exporters, with a view to noting any changes likely to have a material effect on the import trade:\n\n209. Cotton Piece Goods. The ad valorem duties on cotton piece goods have, with one exception, been increased by 23 per cent., and the specific duties have evidently been dealt with on the same principle, but in their case the fact that the duty is expressed in gold units but collected in silver at the current rate of exchange renders it impossible to say in any particular instance what percentage of the actual value of the goods the duty represents. In itself the ratio of increase appears to be hardly sufficiently high to affect the market very materially, but coupled with the great advance in the landed cost of the goods themselves owing to the heavy fall in silver even a moderate addition to the duty will restrict still further the capacity of the market to absorb the more expensive cloths.\n\nThe duties on raw cotton, cotton yarn and the cheaper grades of thread remain practically unchanged, with a slight increase in the duty on the higher-priced embroidery cotton and a considerable reduction in that on cotton waste.\n\nIn made-up cotton goods, however, we find the first examples of the introduction of much heavier duties, presumably designed to protect home industries, the rates on laces, trimmings, socks and stockings, towels, clothing and other articles having been approximately doubled, that on blankets increased by 150 per cent., and in the case of handkerchiefs an ad valorem duty of 15 per cent. has been substituted for specific duties on a 73 per cent. basis.\n\nThe alterations in this section of the tariff are likely to affect the trade very considerably, but Japan is the country chiefly concerned, British interest in the importation of these articles—handkerchiefs only excepted—being already negligible.\n\n210. Wool and Manufactures Thereof. With the exception of wool, woollen yarn and felt hats, the commodities comprised in this section have fared badly in the present revision, the general advance in the rates of duty being very substantial. The effect has been greatly accentuated in the case of woollen piece goods by the substitution in item No. 97 (which covers the bulk of the trade) of specific duties, based on weight per yard, obviously calculated without any regard to current prices and equivalent in the case of some cloths to well over 100 per cent. of the value. The Chinese Government has now decided to give importers the option of paying duties on an ad valorem basis, at the rates of 30 per cent. and 35 per cent. respectively, in the two classes into which this item is divided.\n\n## 103\n\n211. Silk and Manufactures Thereof. Artificial silk has been still more heavily penalised, presumably as the result of agitation by Chinese silk producers. The specific duty of Gold Units 58 per picul (about 8.58d. per lb.) imposed on yarn, representing an ad valorem rate of about 50 per cent. on the lower grades mainly imported into China, seems likely to affect the trade seriously, and as a very large proportion of this yarn is used in the manufacture of goods for re-export the imposition of this heavy duty is also calculated to have a very prejudicial effect on a growing native industry.\n\nAll through this section the duties have been assessed at a very high figure, and whilst it is permissible to doubt whether Chinese silk manufacturers will derive much benefit from this measure of protection, it seems at least probable that the demand for all silk and artificial silk goods will be curtailed.\n\nIn the case of yarn, the effect will be felt most seriously by Italy, which supplies most of the low-grade product, but British artificial silk goods and mixtures may also find difficulty in bearing so considerable an addition to their cost.\n\n212. Metals and Manufactures thereof. In the case of metals, the new duties show in most instances a reduction on those provided under the old tariff, but on electro-plate and other metalware the rates have been advanced and now range from 20 per cent. to 40 per cent. ad valorem.\n\nA step in the right direction has been taken by reducing the duties on machinery and scientific instruments, even that on sewing machines having been lowered from 12 per cent. to 7 per cent. Typewriters and other office machines form the only exception, the duty having been raised from 12 per cent. to 15 per cent. There is an increase in the duties on motor vehicles, arms and ammunition, watches, bedsteads, and other articles, whilst reductions are seen in the case of railway and tramway materials and certain types of electrical supplies.\n\nIt would not appear that British products are directly affected in any special degree by the alterations introduced in this section, but where duties have been increased, the probable effect will be to restrict still further the market for the better-class article.\n\n213. Food, Drink, etc. On most items in this section, the duties have been raised to a much higher level, and whilst only a small proportion of the goods covered is of any interest to British exporters, the higher rates now imposed on such articles as biscuits, butter, confectionery, jams and other foodstuffs, and on wines, spirits and beer, may tend to decrease consumption and so affect our trade in these commodities.\n\n214. Tobacco. The specific duties (which now include the consolidated tax) on cigarettes have been raised to amounts assessed on the basis of 50 per cent. ad valorem, and there is reason to fear...\n\n# 293\n\n10375\n\nD 4", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-531-10 Hong Kong University- encouragement of Chinese students to counteract American influence 30-5-1931 - 1-9-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 549424, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-555-1 Hong Kong Tramways Ltd.- petition 10-7-1935 - 4-10-1935", "page_number": 67, "title": "CO129-555-1 Hong Kong Tramways Ltd.- petition 10-7-1935 - 4-10-1935", "content_text": "100\n\n76\n\nAPPENDIX \"O.\"\n\nChina Motor Bus Company, Limited, in relation to its application to embark on intensive and uneconomic competition with Tramways Service.\n\nMEMORANDUM BY MR. A. B. STEWART, CHAIRMAN, HONG KONG TRAMWAYS, LIMITED.\n\n1. When I appeared before the special Traffic Committee under Mr. Hallifax in 1931 I specially pressed the view that the principle of tendering for the exclusive right to operate a public utility like a bus service by a percentage on gross receipts is contrary to business ethics and is actuarially unsound.\n\n2. Nevertheless the Tramway Company did tender in accordance with the conditions laid down and offered a 12% Royalty on the gross receipts. The tender was unsuccessful and the franchise was awarded to the China Motor Bus Company and within four months of commencing operations the Bus Company was applying for extensions of routes. This application went before the Executive Council and was refused after my Company had been consulted as to the effect these extensions might have on the Tramway receipts.\n\n3. In the present instance, the first intimation we had of the position was from a report in a Chinese newspaper and it is rather difficult to understand why this Company was not formally advised as in the previous instance of contemplated changes which were likely to affect them to a very serious extent.\n\n4. It may be difficult for the lay mind to immediately appreciate the dangers of uneconomic and wasteful competition but we have only to read Sec. 72 of the Road Traffic Act of 1930 to fully realize that the application now submitted by the Bus Company would not be granted by the Traffic Commissioners. This Company has been operating for 31 years and the circumstances being what they are protection over its routes would certainly be accorded.\n\n5. When motor buses were introduced on to the streets of Hong Kong in 1928 two definite conditions were laid down regarding minimum fares. One read: \"The service to be for one class of passengers only,\" and the other: \"Fares to be not less than 1st class fares for the time being on the trams.\" I claim that this principle was strictly followed in 1933 when in the particulars and conditions covering the tenders for the bus franchise the scale of maximum fares - so far as those routes competing with tram routes are concerned - were a complete blank in the column marked 2nd class fares. This was relied upon - not only by my Company but by at least one other tenderer - as implying that there would be no 2nd class fares on the bus routes competing with tramcars and that the Tramway Company would thus be accorded equitable and fair protection just as it would have received in England in similar circumstances. I desire to stress that at the time tenders were invited fares less than 10 cents were never contemplated and for that reason should not be countenanced by Government.\n\n77\n\n6. Should the Council not decide to countermand the sanction in this respect which it is alleged to have given four results will soon follow: (a) Loss to my Company, (b) Loss to the Bus Company, (c) Loss to the Government (through royalty reduction), and (d) Ultimately, an increase, all round, in fares.\n\n7. Any estimate of the probable loss to the Tram Company on the one hand and the Bus Company on the other would be largely guess work but I am of opinion that both must inevitably suffer due to the Bus Company with its smaller vehicles carrying at an uneconomic rate an unknown number of passengers which the larger and more suitable tramcars hitherto carried at a profitable rate.\n\n8. A problem somewhat similar to the problem now under review faced Northern Ireland 3 or 4 years ago and several bus companies running into Belfast were doing so at fares which were too low to be permanent. A tribunal consisting of eminent men such as Sir William McLintock, Mr. Frank Pick, and Sir Josiah Stamp heard exhaustive evidence on the subject and I now quote from part of the final report: \"...with those who have to pay increased fares at the present time the Tribunal have every sympathy, but they feel it their duty to point out that the present conditions in Northern Ireland in regard to fares could not possibly continue. The old conditions of destructive competition under which fares were reduced to their present low level have resulted in indefensible anomalies... Although they may not know it, the public of Northern Ireland are confronted with the certainty that, unless the fare basis is revised, there must inevitably be a great withdrawal of facilities and steady and progressive deterioration of the efficiency and stability essential to the passenger road transport services. Sir Josiah Stamp in his evidence before the Tribunal dealt with the fallacy inherent in the popular view, that it is both economically and socially to the advantage of a community that goods or services should be provided on a low basis of charge which does not afford an economic return. That is to-day precisely what the passenger road transport industry in Northern Ireland is doing. Under these conditions it would be well that the travelling public should realize that there is no escape whatsoever from the inevitable result so clearly indicated by Sir Josiah Stamp that the passenger road transport undertakings must obtain the necessary increase in revenue to put them on an economic basis or else inevitably fall into decay. It is impossible that road passenger transport undertakings should go on indefinitely living on capital as so many of them have been doing for several years past.\"\n\n9. My Company can carry all the 2nd class passengers without the least difficulty. To emphasize this I might mention that Hon. Mr. T. H. King (the then Acting Inspector General of Police) in 1932 - the year of our heaviest traffic - remarked in a letter that he thought we had more cars on the road than was necessary. Meanwhile the number of second-class passengers has dropped by about 1.4 millions.\n\n10. Surely the question of the Tramway franchise, Royalty, and roadway obligations cannot be ignored. When those who concluded the terms of the Tramway Ordinance of 1902 agreed the conditions it was not contemplated that 33 years later - after bearing the heat and burden of the day and developing the\n\n101", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-555-1 Hong Kong Tramways Ltd.- petition 10-7-1935 - 4-10-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 549431, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-555-1 Hong Kong Tramways Ltd.- petition 10-7-1935 - 4-10-1935", "page_number": 75, "title": "CO129-555-1 Hong Kong Tramways Ltd.- petition 10-7-1935 - 4-10-1935", "content_text": "113\n\nPlans,\n\nPower to lay\n\nsingle line\n\nline author-\n\nNo. 10 of 1902.\n\nTRAMWAY.\n\nWongneichong Road, at a point fifty feet (or thereabouts) north of the northernmost point of the building known as the Grand Stand.\n\nSection No. 6.-A single line 2 miles 4 furlongs 3.8 chains (or thereabouts) in length, commencing in Shaukiwan Road by junction with Section No. 2 at the point where such Section will terminate, thence passing, in an easterly direction, along Shaukiwan Road and terminating in that road at a point five hundred and thirty feet (or thereabouts) northwest from the centre of No. 5 Bridge.\n\nSection No. 7.-A single line (with passing places) 1 mile 2 furlongs 4.5 chains (or thereabouts) in length, commencing in Shaukiwan Road by junction with Section No. 6 at the point where such Section will terminate, thence passing, in an easterly direction, along the new road to Shaukiwan now being constructed in place of a portion of the existing road to Shaukiwan, thence, in an easterly direction, along the existing Shaukiwan Road, and terminating in that road at a point twenty feet or thereabouts east of the intersection of the centre lines of Wo Hing Street and Shaukiwan Road.\n\nNotwithstanding anything in this Ordinance or the said plans contained or shown, the company may construct, lay down and maintain the above Sections, or any of them, in such other positions along the lines of route shown on the said plans as the Governor in Council shall approve.\n\n4. The plans hereinbefore referred to are the plans all dated the 9th day of April, 1901, and numbered 1 to 4, deposited by the company in the office of the Director of Public Works.\n\n5. Where a double line of tramway is hereby authorised to be laid down and has been constructed, it shall be lawful for the company, with the consent of the Governor in Council, to lay down in lieu thereof a single line of tramway, and, with the like consent, at any time thereafter to convert such single line into the double line hereby authorised to be laid down.\n\nPower to widen bridges, etc.\n\n6. Subject to the approval of the Governor in Council, the company may, in the construction of the above Sections, or any of them, at its own expense alter the level of, and widen any bridge, road, street or space along or over which any Section is hereby authorised to be laid down, and make and construct all necessary cuttings and embankments, bridges, viaducts, culverts, catch-water drains, and other works, and divert streams: Provided always that the earth excavated and thrown to waste is disposed of to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works, and in such manner as to prevent its being washed by rain into the harbour.\n\nPower to make additional crossings, etc.\n\n7. Subject to the approval of the Governor in Council after timely and adequate notification by public advertisement or otherwise of the intention of the company to apply for such approval, and after such approval has been confirmed by a resolution of the Legislative Council, the company may construct and maintain, subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, and in accordance with plans to be previously deposited in the office of the Director of Public Works, all such lines, crossings, passing places, sidings, junctions, turn-tables and other works in addition to or as extensions of those particularly specified in and authorised by this Ordinance as may be approved of by the Governor in Council, and may work and use the same.\n\nPower to lay down sea water pipes.\n\n8. Subject to the approval of the Director of Public Works as to the method and position of laying down, the company may lay down under any public roadway, street, or space, pipes from any of their generating stations to the sea. The company may also lay down any such pipes over or under any private land with the consent of the owner thereof. The company may pump sea water through any such pipes for the purposes and works of the tramway, and shall make proper provision, to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works, for the return of the surplus sea water into the sea.\n\nPosition of Sections in road.\n\n9. Sections Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 shall be constructed, laid down and maintained as nearly as may be in the middle of the road, and shall not be so laid that, for a continuous distance of one hundred feet or upwards, a less space than nine feet shall intervene between the outside edge of the foot-path on either side of the road and the nearest part of the car, except where it may be necessary to construct and maintain loops for enabling the cars to pass each other, or to construct sidings and curves, all which exceptions shall be subject to the approval in writing of the Director of Public Works. Provided that the company may\n\n* As amended by Law Rev. Ord., 1924.\n\n114", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-555-1 Hong Kong Tramways Ltd.- petition 10-7-1935 - 4-10-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 549432, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-555-1 Hong Kong Tramways Ltd.- petition 10-7-1935 - 4-10-1935", "page_number": 76, "title": "CO129-555-1 Hong Kong Tramways Ltd.- petition 10-7-1935 - 4-10-1935", "content_text": "115\n\nG\n\nNo. 10 of 1902.\n\nGauge of tramway.\n\nPower to break up roads.\n\nCompletion of works, and \"TRAMWAY\".\n\nlay down a double single line in any road where the width may not be sufficient to allow a space of nine feet on either side. Sections Nos. 6 and 7 shall be constructed, laid down and maintained in such positions on the roads along which they are authorised to be laid down as shall be approved by the Governor in Council: Provided that the said last-mentioned Sections may be so laid that a less space than nine feet may intervene between the outside edge of the foot-path on either side of the road, where there is a foot-path, or, where there is no foot-path, between the outside edge of the road and the nearest part of the tramcar.\n\n10. The tramway shall be constructed on a gauge of not less than three feet and six inches in width, and with steel rails, which said rails shall, before being laid down, be approved by the Director of Public Works, and shall be laid and maintained in such manner that the uppermost surface thereof shall be on a level with the surface of the road.\n\n11. The company for the purpose of making, forming, laying down, maintaining, renewing, altering, adding to, or removing any Section or any part thereof respectively, may open and break up any road subject to the following regulations:-\n\n(1) it shall give to the Director of Public Works notice of its intention, specifying the time at which it will begin to do so, and the portion of road proposed to be opened or broken up, such notice to be given seven days at least before the commencement of the work.\n\n(2) it shall not open or break up or alter the level of any road except with the authority, under the superintendence, and to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works.\n\n12. When the company has opened or broken up any restoration of portion of any road, it shall be under the following further obligations, namely:-\n\nroad.\n\n(1) it shall, with all convenient speed, complete the work on account of which it opened or broke up the same, and (subject to the formation, maintenance, renewal, or alteration of, addition to, or removal of the tramway) fill in the ground, and make good the surface, and, to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works, restore the road to a good condition.\n\n(2) it shall in the meantime cause the place where the road is opened or broken up to be fenced and watched, and to be properly lighted at night.\n\nIf the company fails to comply with any of the provisions of this section it shall (without prejudice to the enforcement of specific performance of the requirements of this Ordinance or to any other remedy against it) be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, and to a further fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars for every day during which any such failure continues after the first day on which such penalty is incurred.\n\n13. In addition to the requirements of section 12, the company shall, when it gives notice as aforesaid to the Director of Public Works of its intention to open or break up any road for any of the purposes aforesaid, lay before the Director of Public Works a cross section showing the proposed mode of constructing, laying down, maintaining, renewing, altering, adding to, or removing the tramway or works in respect of which it proposes to open or break up such road, and a statement of the materials intended to be used therein; and the company shall not commence the construction, laying down, maintenance, renewal, alteration of, addition to, or removal of such tramway or works, or any part thereof respectively, except for the purpose of necessary repairs, until such cross section and statement have been approved in writing by the Director of Public Works, and the work shall be executed in accordance with such approved cross section and statement, and under the superintendence and to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works.\n\n14. The company shall, at its own expense, at all times maintain and keep in good condition and repair, with such materials and in such manner as the Director of Public Works shall direct and to his satisfaction, so much of any road whereon any tramway belonging to the company is laid as lies between the rails of the tramway and (where a double line of tramway is laid by the company in any road at a distance of not more than four feet from each other) the portion of the road between the two lines of tramway, and in every case so much of the road as extends eighteen * As amended by Law Rev. Ord., 1924.\n\nTRAMWAY.\n\nNo. 10 of 1902.\n\n7\n\nPage 116\n\n \n\n116", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-555-1 Hong Kong Tramways Ltd.- petition 10-7-1935 - 4-10-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 549433, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-555-1 Hong Kong Tramways Ltd.- petition 10-7-1935 - 4-10-1935", "page_number": 77, "title": "CO129-555-1 Hong Kong Tramways Ltd.- petition 10-7-1935 - 4-10-1935", "content_text": "117\n\nMaintenance rails.\n\n*\n\nNo. 10 of 1902.\n\nTRAMWAY.\n\nExcept as aforesaid the company shall not be liable to pay for the cost of the maintenance or repair of any road whereon the tramway is laid, inches beyond the rails of and on each side of any such tramway.\n\n15. The company shall maintain in good condition and level of repair, and at their proper level so as not to be a danger or annoyance to the ordinary traffic, the rails of which the tramway for the time being consists, and the substructure upon which the same rest; and if the Director of Public Works shall at any time alter the level of any road along or across which the tramway shall be laid, then the company shall, at its own expense, alter its rails so that the uppermost surface thereof shall be on a level with the surface of the road as altered, and if the company makes default in complying with any of the provisions of this section, it shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, and, in case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars for every day after the first on which such default continues.\n\nRoads to be watered.\n\nTemporary tramways may be made when necessary.\n\n16. The company shall keep those portions of the roads which are occupied by the track of the Sections Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 watered to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works.\n\n17. Where by reason of the execution of any work affecting the surface or soil of any road along which the tramway is laid, it is, in the opinion of the Director of Public Works, necessary or expedient temporarily to remove or discontinue the use of such tramway or any part thereof, the Director of Public Works shall, before such tramway or any part thereof shall be temporarily removed, or the use thereof discontinued, give to the company fourteen days' notice at least of the necessity or expediency of such temporary removal or discontinuance, and immediately on receipt of any such notice the company may, subject to such conditions and rules as the Governor in Council may make, construct in the same or any adjacent road, and, subject as aforesaid, maintain so long as necessary a temporary tramway in lieu of the tramway or part thereof so removed or discontinued, and the road on which such temporary tramway is laid shall, subject as aforesaid, be maintained so long as necessary by the Director of Public Works at the expense of the company.\n\n* As amended by Law Rev. Ord., 1924.\n\nTRAMWAY.\n\nNo. 10 of 1902.\n\n18. Any paving, metalling, or material excavated by the company in the construction of its works from road under any the control of the Director of Public Works may be applied excavated in by the company, so far as may be necessary, in or towards construction the reinstating of such road, provided such paving, metalling or material are, in the opinion of the Director of Public Works, fit and proper to be used for such purpose, and all surplus paving, metalling or material not so used shall be the property of the company, and shall be removed by the company with all reasonable diligence.\n\nand persons.\n\n19. For the purpose of making, forming, laying down, maintaining, renewing, altering, adding to, or removing the tramway or any part thereof, the company may, where it is necessary or appears expedient for the purpose of preventing frequent interruption of the traffic by repairs or works in connexion with the same, alter the position of any mains or pipes for the supply of gas or water, or any tubes, wires, standards, poles, or apparatus for telegraphic, telephonic, electric lighting, or any other purposes, subject to the following restrictions:\n\n(1) Before the company shall alter the position of any such mains or pipes, tubes, wires, standards, poles, or apparatus, it shall obtain the written assent of the Director of Public Works to such alteration.\n\n(2) Before laying down the tramway in a road in which any mains or pipes, tubes, wires, standards, poles or apparatus may be laid, the company shall, whether it contemplates altering the position thereof or not, give seven days' notice to the Department or person to whom they belong of its intention to lay down or alter the tramway, and shall at the same time deliver a plan of the proposed work. If it appears that the construction of the tramway as proposed would endanger any such main or pipe, tube, wire, standard, pole or apparatus, or interfere with or impede the supply of water or gas, or the telegraphic, telephonic, electric lighting, or other communication, such Department or person may give notice to the company to lower or otherwise alter the position of the said mains or pipes, tubes, wires, standards, poles or apparatus in such manner as may be considered necessary; and any difference as to the necessity therefor shall be settled in manner provided by this Ordinance for the settlement of differences between the company and Departments or persons.\n\n9\n\n115", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-555-1 Hong Kong Tramways Ltd.- petition 10-7-1935 - 4-10-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 560488, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-570-3 Sino-Japanese War- proposed refugee camp in demilitarised area of South China 1-6-1938 - 11-1-1939", "page_number": 61, "title": "CO129-570-3 Sino-Japanese War- proposed refugee camp in demilitarised area of South China 1-6-1938 - 11-1-1939", "content_text": "# REFUGEE CAMPS SITES\n\n# REASONS FOR CHOICE EXPLAINED BY MEDICAL DIRECTOR\n\n# DETAILS OF GOVERNMENT SCHEME\n\nInterviewed yesterday as to details of the proposed camps for refugees, Hon. Dr. P. S. Selwyn-Clarke, Director of Medical Services, explained why it was not practical to use the New Territories as the base of such camps and pointed out that the most elaborate measures would be taken to ensure that residents would not be incommoded in the areas chosen.\n\nStatements published of the expenditure that would be involved, were extravagant, said Dr. Selwyn-Clarke. Apart from humanitarian motives and the question of safeguarding the health of residents, the Colony would be making only a small financial return for the considerable sum it had accrued as a result of the hostilities.\n\nThe Director said the following, constantly under check to ascertain conditions had to be borne in mind when they can be repatriated. This in selecting a site for a refugee camp: work has been going on for many Ability of the area to accommodate weeks and a large number of Chinese an agreed minimum of persons, un-have been returned to their homes. encumbered as far as possible by Over 100 were sent back last week.\n\nleases, licences residents; \n\nand existing \n\nAccessibility by road, rail or water; Freedom from danger of serious or prolonged flooding;\n\nA careful survey has been made of sites for possible camps in the New found which should provide accom-Territories and one area has been modation, if needed, for between Presence in the vicinity \n\n20,000 and 50,000 refugees. It is im- adequate supply of water of reason-able for a major emergency.\n\nperative to have such an area avail- able purity.\n\nof an \n\ncon-\n\nRemoval from congested areas and districts where malarious conditions pertained and could not be trolled at reasonable cost or without a complete change in the method of cultivation, which was the cause of those conditions, especially near the foot hills.\n\nNot too far removed from districts in which the refugees had a certain number of relatives or friends, or, where they were able to find odd jobs\n\nof work or obtain food.\n\n### Sites Selected\n\n#### New Territories\n\nThis New Territories camp would not be suitable as a substitute for the one to be built on the Marina on account of the type of refugees needing to be accommodated. The Marina camp will be utilised as a clearing station at which refugees can be housed for one, two or more days, pending arrangements being made for their transfer to various places in China, Indo-China and the Straits Settlements.\n\nNor would the New Territories been camp be able to cater satisfactorily for the type of refugee, destitute and semi-destitute, sleeping in the streets at the present time, since this class Will tend cling to the neighbour-hood where it may possess friends or relatives or work connections and is in need of accommodation situated not too far away from such associations.\n\n#### North Point. King's Road.\n\nIt was bounded by sea on the north side; by King's Road, Public Works Department roadmaker's dump, new tramway garage and vacant plot on the south side; by a vacant plot and the Chinese Bathing Club on the east side; and by a vacant plot and the Bungar Printing Press on the west side.\n\nWith regard to cost, extravagant statements have appeared in the Press regarding the actual accom-modation to be provided for refugees.\n\nThere is no foundation for this and there will be no question of \"paupers in palaces.\"\n\nIn point of fact the huts to be erected are of wood. They are 123 ft. long, 18 ft. wide and an average of 11½ ft. high. Each hut is designed to hold 72 persons (the legal maximum) arranged in two tiers of simple metal bunks with boards.\n\nEach refugee will have only 30 square feet of floor space; six by five feet for a bed and any belongings he happens to have and for space to run around in, is certainly far from generous when it is realised that these refugees, is situated over 100 yards from the east side of Chatham Road which is itself 100 feet wide. Hence, no house along Chatham Road is within 400 feet of the sleeping quarters for the refugees.\n\n#### Marina Ground.\n\nBounded by sea on east side and by the Kowloon-Canton railway on west side. The actual camp site on which the sleeping quarters are to be built for the few square refugees, is situated over 100 yards from the east side of Chatham Road.\n\nExpenses Kept Low. Needless to say, the actual cost of buildings will be kept to the lowest level compatible with safety and health and where it is possible to obtain and to utilise matsheds for latrines, etc., this will be done.\n\nCosts are, in any case, an estimate: and it is hoped that tenders which are being called for will show a definite reduction on the estimate.\n\nIt is hoped that the living sheds will be typhoon-proof.\n\n### Camp Restrictions\n\nThe camp will be very strictly supervised; its inmates will have to be in camp by 9 pm and lights will be extinguished by 10 p.m.\n\nIn so far as it is possible to arrange for the inhabitants of the camps to do such cleansing and sanitary work as may be necessary, this will be done and a corresponding economy will be effected in the labour costs.\n\nGreatest attention will be paid to order to reduce the maintenance costs of the camp in regard to sanitary labour to a minimum, arrangements will be made to group the inhabitants into families or chia and into larger units consisting of from three to six chia to form a pao-as is done in China, the chia leaders or chang being held responsible to the pao chang.\n\nA special committee will be formed in connection with this camp, and its sole duty will consist of co-operating with the Tung Wah authorities in re-patriating to comparatively safe parts of China all those who have been forced to leave their homes in areas situated at the seat of hostilities.\n\n#### Kowloon Tsai.\n\nThe actual area involved is a small portion of Crown land on the east side of Waterloo Road between Rutland Quadrant and Essex Crescent, just outside the Southern boundary of the area where it is proposed to spend over £1,000,000 on new barracks.\n\nIt is proposed to have a strip at least 50 yards wide between the east margin of Waterloo Road and the camp fence.\n\nConsequently, the comparatively small number of private homes to be found at that particular spot will enjoy a certain separation from the camp.\n\nNeedless to say, this camp will be as strictly supervised from the health and discipline standpoint as the two already mentioned and every effort will be made to ensure that the minimum amount of annoyance is caused by the inmates.\n\nIt is hoped to restrict this camp to the same class of persons as at North Point but they will be collected from Kowloon.\n\n### Repatriation Efforts\n\nIt is believed, further, that a substantial saving may be possible in connection with the kitchen staff since it is hoped to be able to arrange for some of the inmates of the camp to do the cooking at a small remuneration under the personal supervision of voluntary helpers attached to the Bishop's Emergency Relief Council.\n\nFor a similar reason, it is possible that the actual cost of food and fuel may be reduced to a sum in the neighbourhood of $4 per month per head.\n\nIt must be remembered, however, that it is anticipated that a fairly considerable proportion of the camp population will be young children who need milk.\n\n### Importance of Diet\n\nThoughtful persons will realise at once that it is false economy to furnish a diet which is so deficient in heat and energy value and in the constituents necessary for growth and healthy living, that those receiving it fall sick and have to be treated in hospital.\n\nDuring the last few days the Government has found it necessary to vote thousands upon thousands of dollars on temporary relief hospitals (at Laichikok); and this only touches the fringe of the problem.\n\nLet those who are ready to criticise as too generous the provision of the bare diet which it is proposed to give to the occupants of the camps, spend an hour or so in the Chinese hospitals in Hongkong, seeing the wrecks of humanity many of whom could have been spared their sickness and suffering had they enjoyed at least one square meal a day,\" said Dr. Selwyn Clarke.\n\n\"A Small Return\"\n\n\"Putting it on the lowest possible basis, it is well known fact that Hongkong has derived a considerable sum in revenue as a result of the Sino-Japanese hostilities and, omitting any question of humanitarian motive and public health--the need for the protection of the people and ourselves be glad of a hand outstretched to help us.\"\n\nDr. Selwyn-Clarke continued, \"Occupants of the camps will be themselves and the safeguarding of residents the cost of the camps can be regarded only as a very small return on the Colony's part.\n\nIn conclusion, may I earnestly appeal to all residents of Hongkong who have the interests of the Chinese at heart (and more particularly of those who have been driven from or have fled from their homes in the war areas and are hungry and destitute) to assist the Government in any way they can in its formidable task of giving asylum and succour to those in their hour of need.\n\nThe time may come when many of us with homes and loved ones may be caught up into the cataclysm of war and we shall be glad of a helping hand.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-570-3 Sino-Japanese War- proposed refugee camp in demilitarised area of South China 1-6-1938 - 11-1-1939.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 } ]