Directory_and_Chronicle_1935 — Page 918

A522

HONGKONG

The Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, Limited, owns a water frontage 2,000 feet in length at Kowloon, the total area of its pro- perty being 1,201,350 square feet. It has nine berths capable of berthing steamers 650 feet in length with a draught of 32 feet at lowest spring tides. A new wharf, 800 feet in length, and 60 feet in breadth, is in course of con- struction. Light railway lines facilitate the transfer of cargo to or from transit godowns or from steamer to steamer. at the wharves. A railway siding connects the premises. with the Kowloon-Canton Railway. The Company maintains a fleet of eleven steam and motor tugs and launches and 114 lighters of from 50 to 200 tons capacity; its godowns (including separate buildings for extra hazardous, hazardous and non-hazardous goods and bonded ware- house for storage of dutiable goods) have a total capacity of about 300,000- measurement tons. An open space (343,343 sq. ft.), is also provided for storage of timber and other cargoes not requiring cover. The newer godowns are equipped with electric conveyors and electric cranes. Sixteen cargo cranes are operated on shore and five afloat, with a lifting capacity up to 25 tons. There is additional accommodation at West Point, the principal Chinese business quarter. A large staff of Swatow coolies, trained to handle cargo, is employed and housed by the Company, which also maintains an effective force of detectives and watchmen to prevent robberies and pilferage.

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Holt's Wharf has a frontage of 1,600 ft. and an area of 108,000 sq. ft. The storage accommodation comprises five, four and two-storey warehouses with a capacity of 25,000 measurement tons. A large fleet of tugs and lighters is also maintained. Both these wharves are connected by special siding with the railway.

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With cargo delivered from transit godown, the system is for consignees to obtain Agents' countersignature to their Bills of Lading, after which the Bills of Lading are stamped off for delivery at the Godown Office, and con- signees go to the godowns where their cargo is delivered to them, seven days' free storage (not counting date of arrival) being allowed, after which overtime is charged. Only a portion of a steamer's cargo is taken direct by consignees from transit godowns, the balance usually being transferred to storage godowns under instructions from the consignees, the greater part of the merchandise being held under lien to the various banks. Warrants are issued for such cargo and the merchants issue Delivery Orders as and when required.

THE PEAK DISTRICT

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A well-made but steeply-graded mountain road leads up from the centre of the city to the summit of Victoria Peak, with numerous other paths branch- ing off from it at Victoria Gap along the adjoining hills. A tramway, on the wire rope system, runs to the Victoria Gap, the lower terminus being close to St. John's Cathedral. It was opened to traffic on the 30th May, 1888. The Victoria (Jubilee) Hospital occupying a breezy site on Barker Road, was opened by Sir Henry Blakt on November 7th, 1903, partly as the result of public subscription. A new block was added to it in 1923. Yet another hospital, named "The Matilda Hospital," is situated at the southern corner of Mount Kellett. It was built at a cost of about $350,000 and opened in 1906. The expense of erectoin and maintenance are borne by the state of the late Mr. Granville Sharp, who devoted the bulk of his fortune to provide such an institution for the benefit of persons needing it who are of European or American birth. Another hospital, the War Memorial Nursing Home, was opened in 1932 on Mount Kellett Road.

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The road from Victoria Gap westward leads to Victoria Peak, which is 1,823 feet above the sea and rises almost abruptly behind the centre of the city of Victoria. Not far from the summit of the Peak, on a most commanding: site, stands Mountain Lodge, the summer residence of H.E. the Governor, which was erected in 1901. Another road northward from Victoria Gap and known as Lagard Road was completed in 1920, and, with Harlech Road, encircles Victorian