Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 173

167

No.

6

1900

HONGKONG.

PAPERS ON THE SUBJECT OF THE JUBILEE ROAD ROUND THE ISLAND.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

(Secretary of State to Governor.)

HONGKONG.

No. 153.

SIR,

DOWNING STREET,

11th August, 1899.

I have the honour to inform you that my attention has been drawn to the statement, in Mr. ORMSBY'S report on the Public Works Department for 1898, that no beginning has been made with the road around the Island of Hongkong, which has been projected in commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of Her Majesty's reign.

2. In paragraph 2 of his despatch No. 110 of the 18th May, 1897, your pre. decessor stated that full particulars regarding this road would be furnished in due There appears, however, to be no record of any further communication on the subject having been received in this Department.

course.

3. The delay in this matter, unless it is due to the most exceptional circum- stances, might almost be held to amount to a breach of faith with the public, who were induced to subscribe in 1897 towards the cost of making this road, on the understanding that Government would see the work carried out. I should be glad to receive at an early date a full explanation of the causes of this postponement, and as to whether it is proposed to take steps towards the immediate commence- ment of the road.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

Governor

Sir H. A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.,

fe.,

Jr.,

&c.

J. CHAMBERLAIN,

(Chairman, Jubilee Committer, to Secretary of State.)

HONGKONG, 15th September, 1899.

SIR,

In accordance with the terms of a Resolution passed unanimously by the Hongkong Jubilee Committee at a meeting held on the 15th August last, I have the honour to address you on the subject of the proposed construction of a Road from Kennedy Town to Aberdeen, which was decided upon as one of this Colony's Memorials of Her Most Gracious Majesty's Sixty Years Reign.

2. The necessity for appealing to you in this matter has arisen principally through the action of Major-General BLACK, C.B., who has attempted to thwart the wishes of the Colonists generally by raising objections to the construction of the road on Military grounds.