Sessional_Paper_1924 — Page 142

138

Drawing No. 2.

Drawing No. 2,

Drawing No. 2.

Drawing No. 2.

is for vessels to moor in the stream, the animals being disembarked by junks and driven through the crowded thoroughfares to the slaughter houses which are so situated that fresh meat to be placed in cold storage has to be transported a considerable distance. The question of reconstructing and extending the Cattle Depôt on its present site at Kennedy Town has been under consideration and a scheme involving an expenditure of $565,000.00 has been recommended recently by the Public Works Department. It is considered that, in the scheme of Port Developments, berthage should be provided for vessels importing live cattle and frozen meat. Lairages, slaughter-house and cold storage should be provided in close proximity to the wharves: In this respect the above sum could be utilized in re-provisioning.

Hongkong (North Point).

The business at present carried on in this locality is confined mostly to handling oil in bulk. For this purpose the Asiatic Petroleum Company have provided a pier with pipe lines and also a small basin for the accommodation of oil carrying lighters. For the importation of fuel oil in bulk the design of the installation is satisfactory and it is situated advantageously for the bunkering of vessels, having regard to the scheme for the development of North Point foreshore, (referred to later in this report).

Kowloon and Blackhead Points.

General cargo is largely dealt with at the piers of the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf & Godown Co. and at Holt's Wharves. As these localities seem suitable for dealing with general cargo, any schemes for its more efficient handling may be centred in these neighbourhoods, there being no considerations which preclude development on economic lines.

Kowloon (Yaumati, Taikoktsui and Lai Chi Kok).

With the exception of that imported by the Admiralty, and by local industrial and shipping companies, coal is handled by lighters and temporary coal yards exist at many points on the harbour front. On completion of works now under construction the storage will be located at Yaumati and Lai Chi Kok, one berth being provided at the latter to enable colliers to give direct discharge to the storage ground there. The cost of band- ling coal to and from Yaumati is expensive and Lai Chi Kok is distant from the shipping centre. Recommendations are therefore made, (later in this report), for the provision of up-to-date accommodation in localities more convenient to the shipping centre, which provision will allow of more economic bunkering of vessels than can be accomplished by the facilities at present existing and under construction.

On the Kowloon side of the harbour, excluding consideration of the Admiralty's oil installation near Yaumati,-oil imported is discharged and stored at Taikoktsui, by the Asiatic Petroleum Company and at Lai Chi Kok, by the Standard Oil Company of New York. Although the designs of these installations are satisfactory for the economic discharge of oil fuel imported, they are too distant and at too low levels to enable econ- omic bunkering of ships from pipe lines connecting the installations and the wharves re- commended in the Hung Hom Bay and Kowloon Point schemes. As bunkering by lighters is costly, it is considered that, in connection with the schemes referred to, pro- vision should be made for an oil fuel installation in their vicinity,

Ferry Services.

The routes of the existing services and the points on the Hongkong and Kowloon sides of the harbour between which the ferries ply, are shewn on Drawing No. 2. With the exception of the Star Ferry boats, other ferries berth at Victoria at various points be- tween the Central Market and Eastern Street. To overcome as far as possible the dis- advantages of the present arrangements such as congestion on Connaught Road, difficulty of control and the crossing of ferry routes, recommendations are made later in this re- port for the provision of more satisfactory accommodation. With the exception of new provision to be made at the end of Jordan Road for vehicular ferries, it is not proposed to make recommendations in regard to new accommodation on the Kowloon side of the harbour or at Shaukiwan on the Hongkong side pending the completion of projected works.