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3. We understand that certain unforeseen engineering difficulties have arisen and that an opportunity may have thus presented itself by which it is possible that if representations be made by the residents of Hongkong, the site of the Dock may be changed without detriment to the efficient docking and repairing of H.M. Ships of War.

4. The question of the present position of the dock is one of such vital importance to the future development of our. Colony that we consider we are justified in approaching you on the subject in the hope that a representation of our views may result in the whole question being reconsidered by the various advisers of His Majesty who are concerned in the matter.

5. In support of our contention that much harm must eventually result to the Colony by the proposed Naval Establishment occupying what should, looking to the future, be part of our most important business centre, we beg to submit the following facts.

6. A glance at the attached map of Hongkong will show that the Naval Dock Yard is in the centre of the sea front of the City of Victoria and we would point out that the general tendency is for all leading places of business to congregate in the immediate vicinity of the proposed dock.

7. The praya reclamation scheme, so far as it has been carried out, has pro- vided a much needed stretch of level ground on which large offices have been erected to meet the growing trade requirements of the Colony, and, by increasing the number of main roads running from East to West, has much relieved the congested traffic which formerly had to be concentrated in the Queen's Road and on the old praya.

8. The present position of the Naval Dock Yard unfortunately blocks the extension eastward of this great improvement, cuts the praya in two, congests the traffic, and confines it to a single narrow road. Unless this obstruction is removed, the natural expansion of our city will be irretrievably ruined, much to the dis- advantage of the Colony at large, as, owing to the conformation of the ground, it is the only possible direction in which expansion can take place.

9. We need hardly emphasize the further disadvantages which will be ex- perienced through smoke and noise seriously affecting the comfort of those whose offices or residences are situated in the vicinity of the Dock. Moreover as the work would be going on frequently by night as well as by day these disadvantages, which are particularly felt in a tropical climate, would be specially objectionable to a large section of the community. In this connection we must also consider the serious depreciation in the value of property which will unquestionably result from the above causes. This will be far reaching as it will affect all residential property from the Tram Linc eastward as far as the Naval Hospital, and as high up as the Peak.

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The noise which will arise from the work at the Dock has been foreshadowed during the present construction and in one case led to a summons for a nuisance being taken out at the Magistracy against the Contractors.

10. Nor are the above the sole arguments for the removal of the Dock Yard which we can adduce.

11. We understand that even though land now in the possession of the War Department as well as other land were included in the Naval Yard site, the level ground at the disposal of the Naval Authorities would be barely sufficient to meet the present requirements of His Majesty's Navy in the Far East. We believe that the trend of events is such as to point in the future to a still greater expansion of the British Naval Forces in this part of the globe and under these circumstances we believe we are justified in raising the point that in the near future the new Dock Yard will be found inadequate for the purposes of H. M. Navy.

12. There are, moreover, we believe, other sites which might equally well be made use of for the purpose of a Naval Establishment, but on this point we refrain from saying more as we trust the whole question may shortly form the subject of an enquiry on the part of the respective authorities concerned.

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