16
REVIEW
Chai were no longer required and godown workers moved to Kennedy Town in search of employment.
Communications between ship and shore, and between Hong Kong and Kowloon, began to improve with the introduction of steam launches. By 1876 there were nine of these craft operating in the harbour. The first regular cross-harbour ferry service was started by Mr Dorabjee Nowrojee in 1880, using steam launches, and within 10 years he owned four vessels-Morning Star, Evening Star, Rising Star and Guiding Star. They could carry about 100 persons each and made an average of 147 crossings a day. In 1898 the 'Star' Ferry Company was incorporated and took over Mr Nowrojee's assets.
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In 1885 Lieutenant Thomsett was appointed to the Legislative Council, the first harbour master to be so honoured. No doubt Thomsett was also pleased to hear the Governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen, describe Hong Kong as the greatest port of the Empire next to London and Liverpool. In his report for 1887 Thomsett remarked that it was becoming common to see three or four vessels of between three and four thousand tons in port at the same time. It would be interesting to hear his comments today when some 80 ships, half of them between four thousand and 14,000 tons, are frequently moored or berthed in Hong Kong at the same time.
In 1887 Mr Paul Chater, a wealthy merchant and member of the Legislative Council, proposed a reclamation of 57 acres along the waterfront between Murray Road and Western Street. The scheme received approval and was completed in 1894.
Until the naval dock was built the majority of naval vessels docked in the Hope and Lamont Docks at Aberdeen, although the depth of water at the Hope Dock caused some difficulty when attempting to dock HMS Audacious. To overcome the inadequacy of the Aberdeen dock facilities, and in view of the Admiralty's intention to station a larger type of warship in the Far East, the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company built the present No 1 dock at their Hung Hom Bay yard in 1888. This drydock cost
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