Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 505

First Portion of Correspondence respecting the proposed junction of

the Eastern and Western Prayas.

Presented to the Legislative Council by command of

His Excellency the Governor.

(1.)

Governor Sir George Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Earl of Derby.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG, 25th August, 1883.

Secretary of State No. 123 of June 27th, 1883.

MY LORD,

In continuation of my previous despatches respecting the sanitary works See especially Governor to recommended by Mr. CHADWICK, I would observe that the records of the Colonial Office will show that there has at different periods been much official correspondence respecting the junction of the Eastern and Western Prayas* (or quays) of this city, by a marine embankment or roadway. In fact, the two main portions of the city are now separated from each other in a most inconvenient manner by the interposition of the Naval and Military buildings; and it has long been considered of great importance to re-unite them by an embankment in front of those buildings.

2. It appears by a letter from the Colonial Office to the War Office of June 29th, 1877, that, at that period, the War and Colonial Departments had concurred as to the importance of this work, and that it was desired that "some agreement might be arrived at by which the work should be carried out conjointly by the three Departments," (that is, by the War Office, the Colonial Office, and the Admiralty).

3. Nothing practical however, has hitherto been done. But this question has now been revived by Mr. CHADWICK (the Engineer sent out from England to report on the sanitary condition of Hongkong), who strongly recommends the execution of this work on sanitary grounds. He reports (page 57) as follows:-

"The foreshore in front of the War Department's property is flat and a considerable area is uncovered at low water. Owing to the numerous indentations of the shore line, and the set of tidal currents, a good deal of filth accumulates here from all part of the harbour and not merely from the adjacent property.........The mouths of the Murray Barracks and Victoria Barrack Nullahs † are somewhat obstructed by sand, and there is a tendency to the formation of stagnant pools at their mouths. The only effective remedy for this state of things, would be to reclaim the foreshore

* Praya is a Portugnese word, signifying the Beach, and was adopted by the first settlers at Hongkong because the Marine Parade at Macao is so called.

† Gullies or Ravines.