ENG-1962 — Page 50

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REVIEW

Channel next to the Texaco peninsula. The estimated area of this shelter is 45 acres. With the construction of quays and access roads it could eventually provide safe berths for harbour craft unloading raw materials for the factories of the future, or loading their prod- ucts for export. Immediately to the north of the Texaco peninsula is the new industrial town of Tsuen Wan, where factories and workers' flats continue to be built almost as quickly as the land on which they stand can be reclaimed. Both Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung are at present outside the boundary of the harbour, but to provide additional mooring buoys and safe anchorage space for ocean-going ships there is a proposal to extend the western limits of the harbour. These two, areas, and the eastern and northern coasts of Tsing Yi Island, will then be within the harbour

proper.

It was decided in 1951 to carry out a reclamation scheme border- ing Connaught Road, between the Royal Naval Dockyard and Morrison Street. This project, called the Central Reclamation Scheme, has been divided into four stages. The first consisted of reclaiming a section of the harbour from Murray Road to a point midway between Wardley and Ice House Streets, and included the erection of a new Queen's Pier and twin piers for the Star ferries. The reclamation work was completed in 1953, but the public and ferry piers were not finished until four years later.

Stage three began in 1956 and involved the reclamation of the seabed between Rumsey Street and Morrison Street. The seawall and bordering land provided a much needed passenger terminal for the Macau steamers. Work has now started on the other two stages of the scheme. Stage two involves reclamation between the Star Ferry piers and Queen Victoria Street, and includes the con- struction of an inverted L-shaped public pier forming a basin that will be reserved for private launches. Stage four involves reclama- tion between Rumsey Street and the present vehicle ferry berth at Jubilee Street. Projecting from the new seawall will be two piers for passenger ferry services and one for Government vessels. A site has been reserved on the reclamation for a number of Govern- ment departments, including a new Marine Department head- quarters.

Immediately after the Pacific War it became clear that Kai Tak airport was inadequate for the bigger and faster aircraft coming