Directory_and_Chronicle_1940 — Page 866

A 480

HONGKONG

pipe, of Lap welded steel, has an internal diameter of 12.265 and is 7/16" thick. It is protected by a double hessian wrapping impregnated with bitumastic solution. It has a discharging capacity of 34 million gallons per day at 280 feet above sea level. The pipe line was formally opened on the 31st, March,

1930.

In 1929 the construction of the Kowloon Byewash Reservoir, immediately below the Kowloon Reservoir, was begun and will be finished in 1931, thereby adding a further 180 million gallons to Kowloon's storage. This dam will have a maximum height of over 100 feet.

In 1926 the Aberdeen Valley was investigated as a further source of supply for the Island of Hongkong and in 1929 work was commenced. The Scheme included the construction of a dam 110 ft. in height impounding about 180 million gallons. The existing Aberdeen Paper works dam having a capacity of about 90 million gallons was purchased by Government and was incor- porated in the Scheme.

The Shing Mun Valley dam, one of the largest in the Far East. was completed and is now used as a storage for the enormous quantity of water which annually runs to waste from that Valley.

The approaches to the port are well lighted. The western entrance has the following lights:

Gap Rock Light-Fl. every 3 seconds, visible 18 miles. Connected to the

port by Wireless Telegraphy.

Green Island Light-Fl. W. R. every 8 seconds, visible 16 miles. Connected

to the Port by Telephone.

Central Fairway-North Buoy: Fl. every 3 seconds. South Buoy: Fl.

every 3 seconds.

At the eastern entrance there are:

Waglan Island Light-Group: Fl. every 10 seconds, visible 21 miles. Con- nected to the Port by Telephone, Telegraph and Wireless Telegraphy Diaphone Fog Signal.

Cape D'Aguilar-Wireless Telegraphy Station.

Tathong Point Light-Fl. W. R. every 5 seconds, visible 2 miles. Fog

Bells every 30 seconds.

Cape Collinson Light-Double Fl. W. R. every 10 seconds, visible 16 miles. Lyeemoon Pass Lights-North Side: Fl. R. every 5 seconds. South Side:

Fl. R. every 5 seconds.

Channel Rocks-Fl. every 5 seconds.

Cust Rock Beacon-Fl. every 3 seconds.

Chin Sal Chiu Point Light-Fl. W. R. every 3 seconds, visible 10 miles. The harbour of Hongkong is one of the finest and most beautiful in the world, having an area of ten square miles, and, with its diversified scenery and varied shipping, presents an animated and imposing spectacle. It consists of the sheet of water between the island and the mainland, and is enclosed on all sides by lofty hills, formerly destitute of foliage, but now becoming clothed, especially on the island, with young forests, the result of the affore- station scheme of the Government. The city of Victoria is magnificently situated, the houses, many of them large and handsome, rising, tier upon tier, from the water's edge to a height of over five hundred feet on the face of the Peak, while many buildings are visible on the very summit of the hills. Seen from the water at night, when lights twinkle among the trees and houses, the city, spreading along the shore for five miles, affords a sight not readily to be forgotten.

Nor on landing are the favourable impressions of the stranger dissipated or lessened. The city is well built, the roads and streets are for the most