Sessional_Paper_1929 — Page 38

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HONG KONG.

RESCUE TUG "KAUSING".

No. 199

At a Legislative Council Meeting held on the 7th March, 1929, the Hon. Sir H. E. Pollock, Kt., K.C., asked the following question :—

"Will the Government obtain a report for the information of this Council, from the Honourable the Harbour Master with reference to:-

(i) the feasibility of, and

(ii) the cost (after giving credit for the estimated sale-value of her

present engines) of

substituting motor-engines for the present engines of the "Kau Sing"?

The Government undertook to obtain the report asked for and the report by the Harbour Master is printed below:-

Hon. Colonial Secretary,

1. Before discussing the feasibility of undertaking the alterations to the "Kausing" suggested in Sir Henry Pollock's question in the Legislative Council on Thursday, 7th March, 1929, I would review the conditions and circumstances under which "Kausing" was built.

Arising from the Typhoon that struck this Colony on the 18th August, 1923, the Harbour Master (Commander C. W. Beck with) addressed a letter to the Colonial Secretary proposing that Government should build a powerful Rescue Tug for the purpose of rendering assistance generally in the Harbour to all craft and making certain recom- mendations as to the requirements of such tug, one of which was:-

"5. (c) Twin screw engines making her more easily manoeuvred and with less chance of getting foul and put out of action.

J

This letter was referred to the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce by letter dated 26th September, 1923 and a reply thereto was received dated 31st October, 1923 forwarding an extract from minutes of a joint meeting of the General Committee and Shipping Sub-Committee, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, held on the 4th September, 1923, to discuss with the Colonial Secretary on various matters.

On the 23rd of November, 1923, the Colonial Secretary again wrote to the Chamber of Commerce forwarding an amended plan of the proposed tug stating, "Water Tube boilers are suggested with oil fuel for steaming which would enable steam to be generated quickly in typhoon weather”.

On the 4th January, 1924 the Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, replied that the plans of the proposed Rescue Tug had been referred to a Special Sub-Committee of Ex- perts. On the 15th February, 1924 the Secretary to the General Chamber of Commerce again wrote to the Colonial Secretary stating that the plans had been considered in detail by the Special Sub-Committee of Experts and enclosing the minutes of their proceedings and stating that it was hoped that the notes therein would make it possible for Govern- ment to invite plans, specifications, and tenders for this vessel.

The following is an extract from the minutes of the meeting of this Special Com- mittee appointed to consider the design of the Rescue Tug to be acquired by the Hong