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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 161H OCTOBER, 1897.
13. Commencing at the General Post Office und proceeding eastwards a good road already exists as far as the important village of Shaukiwan 6 miles distant. The road follows the coast line passing through Quarry Bay with its large Sugar Refineries, and is, with slight exceptions, practically level. From Shaukiwan it turns southwards aud begins to ascend until a gap in the hills is reached at an altitude of about 500 feet 14 miles from Shaukiwan. In this portion the existing route is followed for a distance of about 1 mile and a deviation is then made which effects a saving in the length of the road and avoids an unnecessary rise and fall before the gap is reached. The formation of a cutting 30 feet in depth through gap will enable an average gradient of about 1 in 17 to be obtained all the way from Shaukiwan.
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14. Passing through the gap, the present road makes a zig-zag and descends rapidly to the village of Tytam Tuk. Apart from considerations of width, the road is quite impracticable for vehicles, and a new line has therefore been laid out, which skirts the hillside at a higher level and crosses the valley some distance above the village, and in that way an average gradient of 1 in 15 is secured. Contouring the hills at an elevation of about 100 feet until the last valley, has been crossed, a slight ascent is once more begun to join the existing road which attains at this part a maximum height of about 250 feet. With slight undulations the road continues along the hills fringing the coast until a point is reached where a descent is begun to the village of Stanley 44 miles from Shaukiwan.
15. Here the proposed road again deviates from the existing route and, after being carried for some distance approximately level, begins to ascend to a gap at an elevation of 450 feet. This is the last obstacle as regards height which has to be negotiated on the return to the starting point and as in the former instance some cutting will be done here also permitting an average gradient of 1 in 15 to be
secured.
16. Froin the gap, the existing track descends somewhat steeply and mounts another hill before reaching Deep Water Bay, 2 miles distant. To avoid this a new line is laid out contouring the hills in such a manner as to admit of an easy descent to the Bay, the gradient being about 1 in 30. The length of this portion of the road will be slightly increased, but this is more than compensated for by the improvement in the gradient and the avoidance of the intervening hill which would entail an ascent of about 280 feet.
17. After reaching Deep Water Bay a new and practically level route is continued along the shore and through a flat valley to join the Little Hongkong Road, the existing road again making an ascent and descent of some 300 feet to reach the same point.
18. From here the present road is once more followed, through the village of Aberdeen with its Paper Mills and Docks, for a distance of about 2 miles and a divergence is then made, the coast line being adhered to until a junction is effected with the roads in the western extremity of the City at Kennedytown. By this deviation a rise of 480 feet in the existing road will be avoided, the new route being approximately level.
19. From Kennedytown an excellent road exists through the City back to the starting point, namely, the General Post Office.
20. Roughly speaking, the road may be divided into two sections: a high- level portion from Shaukiwau to Deep Water Bay varying from 100 to 500 feet above sea level and a low-level portion for the remainder of the distance practically following the coast line and seldom attaining an elevation of 100 feet.
21. I estimate that the total cost of carrying out the complete scheme will be $255,000; but in the absence of surveys of the route, this amount must be regarded as approximate only. I believe, however, that it will be found sufficient.
22. Some reclamation work will be required at Kennedytown, the cost of which is not included in the foregoing estimate as this will be work of a remune- rative kind.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
W. CHATHAM, Acting Director of Public Works.
The Honourable
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
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