Sessional_Paper_1908 — Page 741

No. 1908

32

HONGKONG.

PETITION AGAINST THE PROPOSED ROUTE OF THE NEW PEAK TRAMWAY.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, December 10th, 1908.

In the matter of a Bill entitled an Ordinance for authorizing the construction of a Tramway "within the Colony of Hongkong",

and

In the matter of the proposed route for the said Tramway.

To His Excellency the Governor and the Honourable the Legislative Council of Hongkong.

The Humble Petition of DOMENICO POZZONI Vicar Apostolic of the Roman Catholic Church on behalf of the Roman Catholic Community of Hongkong.

SHOWETH

1. There is before the Legislative Council a Bill the object of which is to authorize the construction of a Tramway from Victoria to the Peak.

2. The route of the said Tramway is, your Petitioner is informed, proposed to be as marked in blue lines on the plan* hereto attached instead of the route marked on the said plan in red lines as originally proposed.

3. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the principal place of worship for the Catholic Community of Hongkong and is situated on the East side of the Public Gardens.

4. Divine service or other religious observances take place daily in the said Cathedral.

5. It is essential to the due and reverent performance of such services and observances that there should be at such times an absolute absence of noise in such Cathedral and in the immediate neighbourhood thereof.

6. Your Petitioner is informed that it is proposed to carry the said Tramway for a considerable portion of its length on a steel trestle Viaduct 50 feet or thereabouts in height directly in front of the principal entrance to the said Cathedral and within 80 yards or thereabouts thereof, and your Petitioner is informed and believes that the noise caused by cars passing over such a trestle Viaduct and the noise occasioned by the traction Cables passing over the guide pulleys will be so loud as to be distracting to the devotion of those engaged in prayer, or in other religious observances in the said Cathedral. And further that such distracting noise will be almost continuous when cars are running on the said Tramway.

7. The said Roman Catholic Community on behalf of which your Petitioner presents this Petition numbers upward of Seven thousand persons.

Your Petitioner therefore humbly pray that the proposed route of the said Tramway as marked in blue lines on the said plan be not approved and that your Petitioner may be heard by Counsel in opposition thereto and have leave to call witnesses in support of such opposition when the said Bill comes before Your Excellency and the Legislative Council for consideration in Committee.

And your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray.

Dated the 30th day of November, 1908.

DOMENICO Pozzoni,

Vicar Apostolic of Hongkong,

on behalf of the Roman Catholic Community,

* Not reproduced.