3. The occupancy of the Rock temporary or otherwise for any of the purposes mentioned in the above alternative proposals would not involve "the dominion," so that in no case would the Imperial Government require to part with territory.
4. Though the first proposal would involve the heaviest cost to the Colony, and no cost at all to the Government of China beyond the permission to occupy a barren uninhabited rock of only a few square feet in extent, this Government would, on the whole, prefer it, as affording the best prospect of permanently securing an object of so much importance to our commercial interests.
5. In view of the willingness of the Colony to bear the whole cost and res- ponsibility of a work which will largely benefit the Imperial Government, I earn- estly hope that Your Excellency may be able, without further delay, to induce the acceptance of one or other of the above proposals, and thus enable the successful accomplishment of a project which has been the subject of such prolonged, and hitherto, profitless, discussion.
6. Moreover, to save the loss of another year in the commencement of the work it is important that the matter should be settled by the second or third week in March so as to permit of the occupation of the Rock at the season during which access to it is comparatively easy. For this reason I have deemed it well to avoid the delay which would be involved in communicating with Your Excel- lency only after receiving the consent of Her Majesty's Government to the above proposals, and have forwarded a copy of this letter to the Secretary of State for the Colonies with the request that Your Excellency may be informed by telegraph of the approval of its contents by Her Majesty's Government.
7. I need hardly say that this Colony would be under great obligation to Your Excellency if you were able to obtain the early erection of the Lighthouse on terms less onerous to it than those proposed, and I trust that you will agree with me in considering that the Imperial Government of China might fairly make some concession on the point, in view of the large recent increase to its fleet, and the importance to the latter as well as to our mercantile marine of a provision for saving of time and increased security in the approach to this P'ort and the Canton River.
I have, &c.,
G.. WILLIAM DES VEUX, Governor.
Enclosure in Letter No. 2/G of 16th January, 1888.
A flashing first-order great sea-light to be erected on the Gap Rock, South of Hongkong. Estimated height of rock 90 feet. Height of tower 30 feet. Height of light above sea-level 120 feet.
Derrick and apparatus for hoisting and landing persons and stores. Keepers' quarters, water-tanks, and typhoon-proof out-buildings complete.
SIB,
(2.)
PERING, 9th March, 1888,
I had the honour to receive on the 11th of February your Excellency's Despatch of the 16th of January last bearing upon the long pending question of the erection of a Lighthouse in the neighbourhood of Hongkong to serve as a guide to vessels approaching from the South.
You inform me that the Government of the Colony, in accordance with the unanimous opinion of the Maritime Experts who have been consulted on the point, has come to the conclusion that the only proper position for the Light is the Gap Rock, and that the display of a Light on any other of the sites which have been suggested would be worse than useless as calculated to create rather than avert danger.
Under these circumstances Your Excellency has requested me to lay before the Chinese Government three alternative proposals for the erection and maintenance of a Lighthouse on the "Gap" Rock, and you state that in order to facilitate the commencement of the work at an early date, you had submitted the decision of the Colonial Government to Her Majesty's Government and asked that, should it be approved, I might be informed by telegraph and so enabled to lay the matter before the Chinese Authorities without delay.
Your Despatch reached me at the commencement of the Chinese New Year, when little or no official business is transacted; but with a view to expedite as far as possible a settlement of the question, I placed myself in communication with
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