Kai Tak Bund reclamation [1928- ]

The background to this project, and the origin of its name, is given on page 32 of the book, The life and times of Sir Kai Ho Kai:

In 1912, Ho Kai went into partnership with Au Tak to form a company to develop a piece of land formed by reclamation. It was planned to build something like a garden estate there with houses, recreation grounds etc., for private tenancy. For this venture, Ho kai sold his two town houses on West Terrace, for which he received $12,000 and took up residence at 45B Robinson Road. This house valued at $22,500 was bought for him by Madame Wu TingFang and Au Tak who paid $10,000 and $12,500 respectively.

The development company was formed with a capital of $1 million, divided into 50 shares of $20,000 each. It was hoped that Ho Kai would have been made managing director with a competent salary and be entitled to one share of the company free. But the venture was a failure, it had not taken off in the two remaining years of Ho kai's life and eventually went into liquidation in 1924, ten years after Ho Kai died.

The land, which was named Kai Tak Bund, after the two principal partners, was taken back by the government.

We can follow the progress of this reclamation under the "Reclamations" item in the annual reports of the Public Works Department. Here are extracts from each year:

• 1916: [...] a start was made with the reclamation of a large area at the head of Kowloon Bay, covering about 230 acres, to form a residential area for the better-class Chinese.
• 1917: [...] considerable progress was made with the works in connection with the reclamation of about 230 acres of foreshore and sea-bed at the head of Kowloon Bay, referred to in last year’s Report.
• 1918 / 1919: ((They repeat the same text used in 1917.))
• 1920: [...] considerable progress was made with the works in connection with the reclamation of about 230 acres of foreshore and sea-bed at the head of Kowloon Bay referred to in previous year’s Reports. Of this reclamation, an area of 15.244 acres was surrendered to Government at a cost of $115,470.00 as a site for a new Gaol. ((I hadn't heard of this plan to build a Gaol here before. It didn't go ahead. Perhaps this sale was the first sign of the Kai Tak venture running into financial difficulties, and looking around for sources of cash.))
• 1921: [...] a little progress was made.. ((More signs of trouble, as "considerable progress" changes to "a little progress". The size is also adjusted from 230 to 215 acres, to account for the land surrendered as the site for the Gaol.))
• 1922: ... some further progress was made ...
• 1923: Further progress was made ...
• 1924: ... the work carried out during the year was principally in the nature of finishing off the area already reclaimed, the erection of sea-walls, laying of stormwater drainage, and construction of R. C. C. bridges over nullahs, etc.
• 1925: ... work was continued, and R.C.C. bridges over the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Nullahs were completed.
• 1926: ... work has been suspended. ((This marks the end of the private work on the project, later than the 1924 liquidation quoted above would suggest.))
• 1927: ... work remains suspended.
• 1928: In connection with the reclamation of about 215 acres of foreshore and sea-bed at the head of Kowloon Bay, referred to in previous year’s reports, this has now been taken over by Government and work is being completed by the General Works Office.

I've set 1928 as the completion date for the reclamation, but large areas of the reclamation were already in use before then.