32.
"3rd and 4th Wong-nai-chung and Soo-kun-poo. These are both pretty villages, in the midst of fruit trees and surrounded by cultivated land. In their vicinity, as at Tai-tan, a considerable extent of land could be reclaimed from the sea, and it shortly will be much required for building purposes. The united population of the two villages amounts to about 350.
"5th Pok-foo-lun is situated about 500 feet above the level of the sea, and commands an extensive view of all the islands to the south and west as far as Macao.
"There are besides the villages enumerated, many hamlets on the east coast of the island, where the magnificent granite of Hongkong is principally quarried (hence Quarry Bay); and at one of them called Sai-wan, a detachment of soldiers is stationed. (Vide Bruce's picture, and recent note).
413
"The place, however, of the most prospective importance on the island, with the exception of the town of Victoria, is a village called Shek-pai-wan (now Aberdeen) which appears to have been once the principal seaport of the island, and to have been a more flourishing place than it now is. The port, although small, is nearly land-locked; and, having both a western and southern entrance, it is pretty easy of ingress and egress at all times. An island of about two miles in circumference, called Tap-lee-chau, protects this anchorage on the one side, as the island of Hongkong does on the other. There is here abundance of water for a line-of-battle ship to lie at anchor, and the only drawback is in being too small as an anchorage for a large number of European vessels, although 15 or 20 might lie here if necessary. On first visiting this place, in 1841, I was struck with its appearance; and it is probable the time will come when this anchorage will be much in use for repairing vessels, should it not be appropriated by the navy for a dock-yard, for which it certainly seems well suited. (Lamont afterwards built a dock here). The island of Tap-lee-chow would be a good place for a hospital, work-shops, patent slips, etc.; but, in the event of the navy taking it, it would of course require to be fortified.
"No public buildings were found on any part of the island of Hongkong when it was first occupied by the English, except a small tumble-down Chinese house at Chek-choo, and another at Shek-pai-wan, where the petty mandarins stopped occasionally, and three Chinese temples, one at Chek-choo, one near Soo-kun-poo, and the third and finest at Shek-pai-wan, situated on a little island not exceeding an acre in extent, and covered with trees. The existence of this last temple, with the ruins of many houses in the same vicinity, gives rise to the impression that Shek-pai-wan has seen better days; and it is known to have been one of the principal resorts of the pirates when they infested this coast of China many years ago; and that it would again lately have been so, had the island of Hongkong not been occupied by the English, is more than probable."
32.
"3rd and 4th Wong-nai-chung and Soo-kun-poo. These are both pretty villages, in the midst of fruit trees and surrounded by cultivated land. In their vicinity, as at Tai-tan, a considerable extent of land could be reclained from the sea, and it shortly will be much required for building purposes. The united population of the two villages amounts to about -350.
"5th Pok-foo-lun is situated about 500 feet above the level of the sea, and commands an extensive view of* all the islands to the south and west as far as Macao.
"There are besides the villages enumerated, many hamlets on the east coast of the island, where the magnificent granite of Hongkong is principally quarried (hence Quarry Bay); and at the one of them called Sai-wan, a detachment of soldiers is stationed. (Vide Bruce's picture, and recent note).
413
"The place, however, of the most prospective importance on the island, with the exception of the town of Victoria, is a village called Shek-pai-wan (now Aberdeen) which appears to have been once the principal seaport of the island, and to have been a more flourishing place than it now is. port, although small, is nearly land-locked; and, having both a western and southern entrance, it is pretty easy of ingress and egress at all times. An island of about two
1
miles in circumference, called Tap-leelichau),
i
This
protects this anchorage on the one side, as the island of Hongkong does on the other. There is here abundance of water for a line-of-battle ship to lie at anchor, and is only drawback is in being too small as an anchorage for a large number of European vessels, although 15 or 20 might lie here if necessary. On first visiting this place, in 1841, I was struck with its appearance; and it is probable the time will come when this anchorage will be much in use for repairing vessels, should it not be appropriated by the navy for a dock-yrd, for which it certainly seems well suited. (Lamont afterwards built a dock here). The island of, Tap- lee-chow would be a good place for a hospital, work-shops, patent slips, etc.; but, in the event of the navy taking it, it would be course require to be fortified.
"No public buildings were found on any part of the island of Hongkong when it was first occupied by the English, except a small tumble-down Chinese house at Chek-choo, and another at Shek-pai-wan, where the petty mandarins stopped occasionally, and three Chinese temples, one at Chek-choo one near Soo-kun-poo, and the third and finest at Shek-pai-wan, situated on a little island not exceeding an acre in extent, and covered with trees. The existence of this last temple, with the ruins of many houses in the same vicinity, gives rise to the impression that Shek-pai-wan has seen better days; and it is known to have been one of the principai resorts of the pirate's when they infested this coast of China many years ago; and that it would again lately have been. so, had the island of Hongkong not been occupied by the English, is more than probable."
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