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COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 18th December, 1906.

SIR,—I am directed to transmit to you for the consideration of the Members of the Typhoon Relief Committee the enclosed copy of a Report* (with copy of Chart referred to therein to be returned) on the subject of a second shelter for native craft, and to ask you to be good enough to furnish this Government with the views of the Committee on the merits. of the several proposals made by Mr. BOULTON.

Sir C. P. CHATER, Kt., C.M.G.,

I have. &c.,

Chairman, Typhoon Relief Committee.

F. H. MAY, Colonial Secretary.

HONGKONG, 25th March, 1907.

SIR,-I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 18th December last (No. 9647 of 1903, C.SO.) in which you ask that the Government be furnished with the views of the Typhoon Relief Committee on the subject of a second shelter to be erected for small craft.

The accompanying chart and memoranduin have been submitted to the Committee and I beg to state for the information of His Excellency that after full discussion the Committee were unanimously of opinion that the best scheme put forward was that providing a shelter at Mong Kok Tsui.

On behalf of the Committee I beg to thank His Excellency for giving us an opportunity for considering this proposal and for the honour he has done us in consulting us in the

matter.

The chart is as requested returned herewith.

I have, &c.,

C. P. CHATER,

Chairman,

The Honourable

Mr. F. H. MAY, C.M.G.,

P.S.-26/3/07.

Colonial Secretary.

Since writing the above I have to acknowledge your further letter on this subject dated 23rd instant No. 9647/1903.

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COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 11th March, 1908.

SIR, It will be within the recollection of the Chamber of Commerce that in 1904 this Government referred to them the proposal to construct a new Typhoon Refuge at Mong-kok- tsui, and that the Chamber in reply advocated that the Refuge should be situated at Ch'eung- sha-wan.

2. Since the typhoon of 18th September, 1906, the question has been again before the Government and the Typhoon Relief Committee, the Chinese stevedores and the Public Works Committee having declared themselves in favour of a Refuge at Mong-kok-tsui, a detailed estimate of the cost of the latter has been prepared.

The former estimate was only a rough calculation at a given price per foot run to enable a comparison to be made between the cost of several breakwaters at different sites that had been suggested, and it is estimated that making provision for increased solidity due to the experience of the typhoon of 1906 and for considerable advance in prices, a breakwater at Mong-kok-tsui to enclose 166 acres of sheltered water will cost $1,540,000.

* Not printer.