Sessional_Paper_1909 — Page 93

HONGKONG.

REPORT ON THE PROPOSED BOAT-SHELTER AT MONGKOKTSUI BY MR. J. F. BOULTON.

No. 150

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, February 25th, 1909.

PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 1st February, 1909.

SIR, I beg to submit the following report on my recent conference with Messrs. Coode, Son and Matthews, the Consulting Engineers, with reference to the Proposed Shelter at Mongkoktsui, for the protection of small craft during typhoons. The object of the conference was to obtain an expression of opinion upon the suitability of the proposed shelter and the sufficiency of the proposed break-water.

To enable the Consulting Engineers to pronounce upon the subject, I supplied them with the following materials and data :-Charts of Hongkong Harbour and surroundings, showing the relative positions of the anchorages and of the proposed shelter; the depth of the water in and adjoining the shelter; the maximum exposure which the breakwater would have to face; and the positions of various sea walls which withstood the typhoon of 18th September 1906, and of others which were damaged or demolished by that typhoon. Detail Drawings of the sea walls referred to. Diagrams prepared from Kowloon Observatory records showing the daily direction, force, and duration of the wind during a series of years. Tabular statements showing the behaviour of the wind during a number of severe typhoons, as registered at the Kowloon Observatory. Information concerning the character of the sea as developed by a typhoon; and concerning the character of the small craft which the shelter is designed to protect. Particulars about the levels and nature of the hard bottom and overlying deposit on the site of the break water. A detail cross section of the propose.l breakwater, and a specification of the same. A schedule of prices of materials and labour. Information about the location and character of the quarries froin which materials are to be drawn for constructing the breakwater; about local methods of work; etc., etc., etc.

The Consulting Engineers were of opinion that, as typhoons mostly begin from the north- east, the position of the shelter, being under the lea of the shore, was well chosen from the point of view of accessibility.

They considered that the breakwater, either with regard to its direction or the extent of the sheltering work contemplated, could not be improved.

But they were of opinion that, unless the widths of the entrances were contracted, the area effectively sheltered by the breakwater would be much and unnecessarily reduced.