ANNUAL
DEPARTMENTAL REPORT
BY THE
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR 1950-1.
PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY NORONHA & COMPANY, LIMITED
GOVERNMENT PRINTERS & PUBLISHERS
OLD BAILEY STREET, HONG KONG
CONTENTS.
Paragraphs,
INTRODUCTION
1- 8
ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE
9- 57
New Central Government Offices
9- 13
Residential Buildings
14- 18
Police Buildings
19- 27
Schools
Medical Department
28- 34
35-39
Sanitary Department
40-45
Marine Department
46
Royal Hong Kong Defence Force
47- 48
Fire Brigade
49-
50
Department of Commerce & Industry
51-52
Post Office ......
53
Royal Observatory
54
Civil Aviation Department
Registration of Persons Offices at North Point
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE
55
56
57
58- 63
CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE
Crown Lands
64- 88
64- 75
Survey
76-84
Valuation and Resumption
85- 88
Paragraphs.
DRAINAGE OFFICE
Stormwater Drainage
89-120
90-95
Foul Sewers
96-99
Anti-malarial Works
100-102
Works on Private Account
103-106
Works Contingent on Land Sales
107-109
Reclamation Schemes
110-111
Rehabilitation Works
112-113
Miscellaneous
114-120
ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE
121-133
PORT WORKS OFFICE.
134-158
Maintenance`
135-138
New Construction
139-158
ROADS OFFICE
159-185
General
159-164
Raising of Queen's Road Central
165-173
Reconstruction of Au Tau Bridge
174-179
Quarries
180-185
WATERWORKS OFFICE
186-229
General
186-194
Supply
195-209
Repairs and Maintenance
210-212
Renewals and Improvements
213-223
Miscellaneous
224-229
EXPENDITURE
230
...
INTRODUCTION.
1. This report covers the activities of the Public Works Department for the financial year ended 31st March, 1951.
2. Mr. E. A. Boyce, B.Sc., A.M.I.C.E., Director of Public Works, relinquished duties owing to ill health on the 13th April, 1950, and Mr. A. P. Weir, M.I.C.E., M.I.W.E., Deputy Director, was in charge of the department until the writer arrived in the Colony and assumed duties on the 15th January, 1951.
3. Mr. N. K. Littlejohn, A.M.I.C.E., A.M.I.Struct.E., Executive Engineer, and Mr. W. W. C. Shewan, Dip. Arch. (Aberdeen), F.R.I.B.A., Chief Architect, were appointed Assistant Directors with effect from 28th April, 1950 and 17th December, 1950 respectively.
4. During the year under review the operations of the department were carried out, under the direction of a headquarters staff, by eight sub-departments, namely Architectural, Buildings Ordinance, Crown Lands and Survey, Drainage, Electrical and Mechanical, Port Works, Roads, and Waterworks.
5. The expatriate staff of the Public Works Department comprised 132 officers, and the non-expatriate 633 officers. The number of daily rated artisans and labourers averaged 3,520.
6. During the year the Report of Mr. S. S. Ross, Organization and Methods Adviser, who had carried out a detailed organization and method survey of the department the previous year, was examined in detail and a number of recommendations were adopted with a view to simplifying departmental procedure particularly connected with routine office work.
7. Sir Patrick Abercrombie's Preliminary Planning Report on the preparation and development plan for the Colony, which had been pre- pared in 1948, was examined in detail and a scheme for the redevelopment of Yaumati incorporating a Community Centre was prepared.
8. Although the work of the department was considerably handi- capped by the lack of adequate professional staff it was possible to carry out, in addition to the normal and recurrent programmes of work and the projects described in some detail in the following pages, a number of security measures including the fencing of the frontier to restrict unauthorized immigration.
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ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE.
CHIEF ARCHITECT A. M. J. WRIGHT, A.R.I.B.A., A.R.I.C.S.
9.
NEW CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
Preliminary designs have been prepared for new Central Government Offices to be accommodated on a site extending from Garden Road in the east to Ice House Street in the west.
10. Provision has been made for the demolition of the old buildings and the erection of the new buildings in three stages: stage I comprises the eventual Public Works Department wing which will occupy the former Defence Force site; stage II comprises the new Secretariat building and Council Chamber and will occupy the present Secretariat site; and stage III comprises the erection of the largest block which will accom- modate other Government Departments at present housed in rented offices.
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11. The location and shape of the site has resulted in buildings with horizontal as opposed to vertical circulation. Adequate provision of lifts at the Ice House Street entrance will provide good means of access to the offices for persons approaching from the city.
12. The planning principle adopted throughout is one of office space on either side of central corridors, the depth of offices being determined as the average between requirements for single offices and large registries and draughting rooms. Fenestration is designed in 4′ 6′′ units so that offices may be built up of any multiple of this figure. It is anticipated that the entire building will be air-conditioned, but the building has been planned so that natural ventilation can be relied on if necessary.
13. Working drawings for Stage I are in preparation and building work is expected to start in September, 1951.
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.
14. Residence for the Colonial Secretary. The house formerly occupied by the Colonial Secretary was seriously damaged during the war and subsequently demolished. A new house has been constructed on a site a little less than one acre in area along Barker Road. The house has been planned with the main rooms facing north in order to avoid excessive sun penetration and also to take advantage of the fine view over the harbour. The main accommodation consists of a drawing room- 30′ × 18', dining room-24′ x 18', study-18′ × 14′; master bedroom,
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dressing room and bathroom en suite, with two other bedrooms-each with its own bathroom-a dry room and well-equipped kitchen and pantry with servants' quarters adjacent.
15. The building is of brick construction with a granite plinth, reinforced concrete floors and a pitched reinforced concrete roof. The walls are rendered externally and finished an off-white colour and the roof is covered with imported green glazed tiles. These tiles are used decoratively in the garden in conjunction with blue brick and granite terraces and garden walling. Internally the house has teak block floors, mosaic tile paving to verandahs and bathrooms and teak panelling in the study. The interior decoration has been carried out in a traditional style and a feature has been made of the curving staircase in the main entrance hall with a wrought iron balustrade. Coal-burning fireplaces have been provided in the study and drawing room and all main rooms are fully air-conditioned.
16. Work on the main building commenced in August 1950, and was completed in March 1951. The site preparation was done on a separate contract which commenced in May 1950.
17. Residence for the Chief Justice. This building was also completed during the year. Owing to shortage of staff in the Architectural Office, private architects were commissioned to design and supervise the erection of the house, which was completed in December 1950. The accommoda- tion provided consists of living room, dining room and study on the ground floor with three bedrooms and a dressing room on the first floor. The main rooms are air-conditioned.
18. Albany Flats. These are sited above the Botanic Gardens in Albany Road. Working drawings were prepared during the year and tenders were called at the end of March 1951. The scheme comprises fourteen flats each consisting of living room, dining room, two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, servants' quarters and a private servants' yard to each flat.
POLICE BUILDINGS.
19. Police Stations. Shaukiwan, Bay View, Hung Hom and Kowloon City Police Stations were completed during the year. The plans of Shaukiwan, Bay View and Hung Hom are all similar and each station consists of offices and barrack accommodation for 82 men, cells for 15 males and 6 females together with a drill compound and garages. There are married quarters at each station in a separate block containing 3 five-roomed flats. Kowloon City Police Station is considerably larger than the others; office accommodation is increased and barrack accom-
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modation is provided for 204 men. Cells are provided for Chinese males and females, European males and females and juveniles. The married quarters consist of a separate block containing 12 five-roomed flats.
20. Block Houses in New Territories, Police Block Houses at Shatin, Sai Kung, Castle Peak and Tsun Wan were completed. The plans of each building are identical and the accommodation consists of offices, barrack ́accommodation for 30 men, two flats for a Sub-Inspector and the Officer-in-charge, garage accommodation and a drill yard.
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21. Kam Tin Block House. The site for a new Block House at Kam Tin was chosen early in 1951 and preliminary drawings were commenced.
22
22. Police Rank and File Quarters, Hollywood Road, Hong Kong. The site for these new married quarters is that of the old Queen's College which was demolished during the war and has now been rebuilt at Cause- way Bay. The scheme comprises two blocks of flats, garages for Police vehicles, a grocery shop and a recreation centre.
23. There are 196 Living Units-each comprising a living-bedroom- size 23′ 0′′ × 12′ 8′′, with a private verandah, private kitchen and yard with a drying lines for laundry. Communal lavatories and communal
laundries are provided on each floor.
24. A number of the living units have been so designed that they may be combined to form a two-roomed unit for senior N.C.O.'s.
25. One block is eight storeys high and the other seven storeys high; the buildings are of reinforced concrete bearing wall construction with corridor access to each living unit. One lift has been installed in each block,
26. Work was commenced in May 1950, and is due to be completed early in April 1951. The erection of the Recreation Centre was started in March 1951.
27. Police Rank and File Quarters, Canton Road, Kowloon. Working drawings were commenced early in 1951 for a further block of Rank & File Quarters in Kowloon. The scheme comprises three eight-storey' blocks totalling 375 living units. The plans of individual units are basically the same as those provided on the Hollywood Road site but minor improvements have been made. The plans also include a co-operative shop, medical clinic, recreation centre, children's playground and garages for Police vehicles.
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SCHOOLS.
28. Four new Government Schools were completed during the year 1950-51.
29. Queen's College. A senior school for 900 boys was erected on formerly vacant reclaimed ground at Causeway Bay. Accommodation comprises 24 classrooms, 3 science laboratories, a science lecture room and a geography room; an Assembly Hall, which has seating capacity for approximately 900, and is well equipped with a large stage, dressing rooms and storage; a refreshment room adjacent to the hall, which serves also as the school tuck shop. In addition, the normal staff rooms, stores, changing and toilet accommodation, etc. were provided and provision was made in planning for the future addition of a gymnasium, library and canteen.
30. The lay-out, orientation and structure were largely determined by limitations of the site and sub-soil; a two-storey reinforced concrete frame structure being developed using wide, continuous strip footings to spread the load on the sub-soil and avoid the use of piles. The building is of single room width throughout to obtain the best conditions of light and ventilation.
31. Speed was the essence of this contract and, apart from the ceiling and floor to the Assembly Hall, the building was completed in five months by September 1950.
32. Vernacular Primary School, Queen's Road East. Building work was started in March 1950, and was completed in September 1950. The site is in a congested area and considerable difficulties were experienced in giving the accommodation required while providing the requisite amount of daylight to each classroom. Accommodation is provided for about 300 pupils in 14 classrooms. Also included in the scheme are work- shops and laboratories for temporary use by the Junior Technical School.
33. King's College Primary School. Building work was commenced in March 1950, and was completed in September 1950. The work consisted of rehabilitation of the ruins of the original King's College, but so little was left of the original building that the work here virtually consisted of rebuilding on the old foundations. Accommodation has been provided for about 600 pupils in 17 classrooms, one Handicraft room and one Domestic Science room. There is also an assembly hall and gymna- sium; and a small swimming pool, which was provided in the original design, has also been rehabilitated.
34. Kowloon Junior School. Owing to shortage of staff in the Architectural Office, private architects were commissioned to undertake this work. The building was completed in August 1950, and accommoda- tion consists of seven classrooms and one Nursery room.
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MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
35. Kowloon T.B. Clinic. Reference to this building was made in last year's Annual Report. Work was commenced in July 1950, and com- pleted in December 1950.
36. New Wards at Kowloon Hospital. As a matter of urgency in May 1950, the Architectural Office was requested to prepare a scheme for two 36-bed wards at Kowloon Hospital. This request was later amended to four 36-bed wards of which half should be built immediately. Building work was commenced at the end of March 1951.
37. Central Medical Dispensary. This scheme comprised an exten- sion to the Furniture Workshop at North Point referred to in the Annual Report for 1949-50, linking it up with an existing wing of the Government Stores. Additional storage space for the Furniture Workshop is provided on the ground floor while the first floor of the new building has been fitted out for use by the Government Pharmacist as his laboratory and central dispensary. Building work commenced in January 1951 and is due to be completed early in May 1951.
38. Dangerous Goods Store, Queen Mary Hospital. This work was completed during July 1950.
39. Telecurie Therapy Clinic, Queen Mary Hospital. and an estimate were prepared.
SANITARY DEPARTMENT,
Sketch plans
40. Kowloon City Market. Building work commenced in November 1950, and is due for completion early in April 1951. This building is listed as a light construction market and comprises 95 stalls in a one- storey building together with lavatories, caretaker's quarters, running water to each stall and a scalding room for the poultry section.
41. Hung Hom Market. Owing to the number of stalls required to be provided in this market and the congested site, it was necessary to design a two-storey building of considerably heavier construction than that envisaged under the description light construction markets. The accommodation provided consists of 96 stalls but, owing to the compara- tively high estimated cost of the building, work has been deferred. Work- ing drawings and specification were, however, completed.
42. Health Office, Aberdeen. Building work was commenced in November 1950, and completed in March 1951. The site is at Aberdeen adjacent to the existing market and consists of a general office and quarters for one Sanitary Inspector, one caretaker and thirty sanitary coolies, together with stores and a large compound,
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43. Health Office, To Kwa Wan. Building work commenced in November 1950, and was completed in March 1951. The accommodation provided consists of a general office and two private offices, stores, quarters for one caretaker, lavatory accommodation and changing rooms for sanitary coolies, and a large compound.
44. Public Latrines. Two further public latrines were started during the year under review. Both sites were in Cheung Sha Wan (near the junction of Tai Po Road and Castle Peak Road) and building work was commenced in March 1951. The start was delayed due to the presence of squatters on the sites.
45. Wo Hop Shek Cemetery. A survey was made in conjunction with the Military Authorities for the taking over of various buildings which were in course of erection in 1941 and which have since 1945 been occupied by the Military. Actual building work done by the Architectural Office during the year under review consisted of the erection of garages and a farewell pavilion. Work was commenced in February 1951, and is due to be completed in April 1951.
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MARINE DEPARTMENT.
46. Three Marine Licensing Stations were completed during the year 1950-51. Cheung Chau was completed in May 1950; Aberdeen was commenced in June 1950, and completed in October 1950; while Yaumati was commenced in June 1950, and completed in September 1950. The accommodation provided in each Station consists of offices, seamen's quarters and two flats for supervisory staff.
ROYAL HONG KONG DEFENCE FORCE.
47. To enable the site for the Central Government Offices to be cleared by September 1951, it was necessary to provide alternative accommodation for the Headquarters of the Royal Hong Kong Defence Force. The site of the old Civil Service Cricket Club at Happy Valley was eventually chosen and the old Clubhouse was rehabilitated for use as a Quartermaster's store and male and female changing rooms, work being commenced in January 1951. The contract for the remainder of the scheme was let in February 1951.
48. The accommodation provided in the new buildings consists of one large and one small lecture room, canteen-bar, medical inspection room, offices for Force headquarters, armoury, armourers' workshop, military rifle range, covered parking area for all regimental vehicles and a three- bedroomed house for a Warrant Officer. A large flood-lit parade ground has also been provided. The entire scheme is due for completion in August 1951.
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FIRE BRIGADE.
49. Kowloon Fire Station. This scheme was referred to in last year's Annual Report but, after the preparation of sketch designs and an estimate, the site on the corner of Argyle Street and Waterloo Road was considered to be unsuitable for the erection of a Fire Station. A new site has now been approved on the corner of Prince Edward Road and Tong Mi Road and a revised scheme has been prepared. The scheme has been approved by Government.
50. Tsun Wan Fire Station. A sketch scheme for a sub-Fire Station at Tsun Wan was prepared and has obtained Government approval.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.
51. Sheung Shui Revenue Station and Quarters. Building work commenced in March 1951. The site for the building is on the Fanling cross-roads and conveniently placed for vehicular traffic coming from the Border. The accommodation provided comprises offices, a godown and quarters for thirty Revenue Officers and a flat for one Revenue Inspector.
...
52. Rice Godowns, Kowloon. Two rice godowns of a total floor area of 72,000 square feet were erected on site adjacent to Chatham Road. Work on these buildings was completed in August 1950. Owing to staff shortages in the Architectural Office, the work was carried out by private architects.
POST OFFICE.
53. Alterations to Post Office Building. In order to improve the working conditions in the Post Office Building, extensive alterations were carried out during the year. These involve the erection of new partitions, redecoration, the provision of additional lighting and the enclosure of verandahs. An order was also placed for one goods lift and two mechanical hoists which will be installed during the year 1951-52.
ROYAL OBSERVATORY.
54. Radio-Sonde Station. Work on the Radio-Sonde Station at King's Park was commenced in December 1950, and is due to be completed in April 1951. The accommodation comprises offices, laboratories, stores, caretaker's quarters and a balloon filling shed. As the site is necessarily on the top of a hill unencumbered by other buildings to avoid the high cost of an approach road up the hillside, a cable railway has been provided for hoisting gas cylinders from a loading bay about 100 feet below the
level of the Station.
CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT.
55. Weather Station at Waglan. Drawings were prepared for this scheme incorporating the requirements not only of the Department of Civil Aviation but also the Marine Department, Royal Observatory and Royal Navy. After completion of the drawings the Naval Authorities decided to withdraw from the scheme and to erect a separate building for their own use. Commencement of building operations has, therefore, been delayed pending a settlement of various outstanding points.
REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICES AT NORTH POINT.
56. Sectionalized hutting, which had been erected for the Deep Bay Survey Party in January 1950, was re-erected during 1950 at North Point for use as offices by the Registrar of Persons.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES & FORESTRY.
57. New Offices at Lai Chi Kok. As part of the Post Office reconstruction scheme, the offices of D.A.F.F. were moved to Lai Chi Kok, and housed in sectionalized timber hutting similar to that used at Deep Bay and elsewhere. Work commenced in January 1951, and is due to be completed in April 1951. ·
BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE.
CHIEF BUILDING SURVEYOR J. H. BOTTOMLEY, E.D., A.M.I.struct.E., F.R.S.A.
58. The erection of new buildings on new and old sites and the recon- struction of many old buildings was carried out during the year. In parti- cular, mention is made of the erection of large blocks of offices, several churches and cinemas. Work on some housing schemes was proceeded with and 1,037 buildings were completed. During the year it was noticed that the volume of new work was less than the preceding year.
59. In all, 3,097 plans were approved in respect of 5,206 buildings of which details are set out below:
121 plans for
224
29
79
4
15
54
61
173 European type houses. 656 Chinese type houses,
33 Workshops and factories. 83 Godowns and stores.
4 Churches.
15 Theatres.
67 Temporary buildings. 199 Site plans.
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116 plans for 144 Repairs. H
2,328
13
92
3
"
1
1
3
1
20
"
"
"
2223
3,750 Alterations and additions.
13 Schools.
3 Hotels.
1 Film Depôt.
1 War Memorial.
3 Amusement Parks.
1 Laboratory.
21 Minor non-domestic buildings.
37 Demolitions.
60. Occupation certificates were issued for 224 European type, 561 Chinese type and 252 non-domestic buildings. 500 miscellaneous permits were issued.
*
61. Miscellaneous notices issued comprised 315 for dangerous buildings, 17 in respect of emergency shoring, 232 in respect of 254 drainage nuisances and 885 for removal of illegal structures.
There were 13 prosecutions.
62. 667 drain tests were carried out in various districts.
63. Miscellaneous inspections carried out consisted of 1,023 in respect of licensed premises, 57 in respect of collapses and landslides and 13 in respect of fires.
CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE.
SUPERINTENDENT OF CROWN LANDS AND SURVEYS M. I. DE VILLE, A.R.I.C.S.
CROWN LANDS.
64. Revenue:- The total amount of revenue billed, including $288,162.36 collected by the District Commissioner, New Territories, as compared with the previous year was
Premia on land sales, etc.
1949/1950.
1950/1951.
$4,782,653.75
$5,950,279.93
Boundary Stones and Survey. Fees
26,754.88
44,616.97
2,069,196.47
2,253,236.23
2,444.00
1,831.00
$6,881,049.10
$8,249,964.13
Permit Fees
Plans sold to the public
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Hong Kong
65. A detailed comparison of premia derived from land sales, exten- sions and conversions with the figures for the previous year is as under :-
(1) Sales by Auction
Hong Kong Kowloon
New Kowloon New Territories
(2) Sales without Auction Hong Kong
(3) Extensions Granted
Kowloon
New Kowloon New Territories
1949/1950
$ 570,200.00 125,400.00 775,600.00 72,074.00
927,914.00
48,001.00
1950/1951
$ 586,520.00 598,300.00 886,390.00 183,233.33
313,355.00
540,253.00
1,484,640.00
2,019,898.00
3,337.00
3,821.42
259,027.45
62,914.00
Kowloon
3,360.00
4.00
New Kowloon
99,950.20
New Territories
14.00
1,403.00
(4) Conversion and
Exchanges
Hong Kong
39,852.50
160,204.44
Kowloon
8,616.50
152,460.00
New Kowloon
11,760.00
100,276.50
New Territories
41,536.10
24,294.24
of Leases
(5) Extension of Terms Hong Kong
Kowloon
$186,763.00
135,153.00
142,608.00
(6)*** Piers
New Kowloon
New Territories
Hong Kong.
Kowloon
New Kowloon ....
New Territories
$4,782,653.75
181,800.00
$5,950,279.93
66. Two free grants have been made to charitable institutions and schools during the year, one for Hong Kong and the other for the main- land.
67. Permits: Permits issued for the occupation of Crown Land for short periods were of a miscellaneous character. Some details are as follows:
68. In Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Kowloon 1,193 new permits were issued and 273 permits were cancelled for various reasons. The total number of permits in force at the end of the financial year was 4,348 and fees collected amounted to $2,177,825.86.
69. Two temporary pier licences were issued and annual rent amounting to $2,802.60 was collected.
70. One Encroachment Permit was issued to the Air, Officer Com- manding at a nominal annual fee of $1.00.
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71. Demand Notes in connexion with permit fees have been issued under the new system of payment of fees annually from the date of issue of the permit as recommended by the Organization and Methods Adviser. The use of the addressograph machine in the Waterworks Office has increased efficiency and speed of issue of such Demand Notes.
72. In the New Territories, excluding New Kowloon, the permit fees collected amounted to $75,410.37.
73. Drawing Office:- The number of plans prepared was 29 sets for sales, 310 sets for leases, and 125 sets for surrenders. 385 tracings and 4,544 sunprints were produced and 1 survey sheet was traced. 1,223 plans were supplied to Government Departments and 143 prints supplied to the Public realized $1,831.00.
74. The "Copycat" printing outfit produced 5,503 prints and the "Photostat" reproduction outfit produced 5,980 prints.
75. An 8 to 1 mile plan of Hong Kong Island in seven sheets was compiled and lithographed. Maps of Hong Kong and New Territories were also produced for the Hong Kong Annual Report.
SURVEY.
76. Trigonometrical Surveys:- One minor and two tertiary stations were re-valued in Hong Kong and two beacons rebuilt during the year.
77. Observations were made on 3 main and 5 minor trigonometrical stations on the Island, 1 main and 1 minor station in Kowloon and New Kowloon and 5 main and 4 minor stations in the New Territories.
78. Revenue Surveys:- Surveys were made (1) for Lease Plans for 348 lots covering 24 acres, (ii) for Renewal of Leases for 50 lots covering 16 acres and (iii) for Surrender Plans of 100 lots covering 5 acres. 199 lots covering 146 acres were set out and 1,483 boundary stones were fixed to mark 355 lots.
79. Picket Boxes:- Nine new picket boxes were fixed, six re-newed and sixty-five were revalued.
80. Land Surveys:— 314 acres of land occupied by the Services were surveyed and areas covering 24 acres were surveyed for Govern- ment Departments. A total chainage of 116,288 feet of traverses were completed during the year.
81. Colony Survey: New survey of 483 acres with a chainage of 117,550 feet and the revision of the survey of 691 acres with a chainage of 21,434 feet were carried out.
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82. General:-
--- In connexion with road widening and rebuilding schemes, 13 areas or alignments were set out and 312 building and frontage lines for 125 lots were checked. In addition 18 areas covering 1331 acres were surveyed in respect to adjustment of boundaries.
83. Contour surveys and levelling:- Contour Surveys up to 367 acres with a chainage of 66,614 feet, spot levelling over 1 acres and levelling at a chainage of 12,000 feet were completed. One new bench mark was fixed and valued. The annual computation of mean sea level was carried out and recorded as 3.90 feet above Principal Datum, Hong Kong.
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84. Survey Sheets:- 33 new sheets on a scale of 1:600 and 3 on a scale of 1:2400 were taken up.
VALUATION AND RESUMPTION,
85. Valuations were made during the financial year in respect of 759 hereditaments with a total estimated value of $60,248,310.00. These valuations were made for estate duty purposes, resumptions for street widening and other town planning improvements, purchase and sale of property by Government, renewals of Crown Leases, exchanges and other purposes. In addition Depreciation Fund contributions, premia by instal- ments and commutation of Crown Rent were computed.
86. 77 Survey District Lots were resumed by notice for the Kai Tak Runway Extension, and the Crown's case presented to the resulting Arbitration Board.
87. Over half of the hereditaments valued were for Government Departments other than the Public Works Department.
88. Compensation on Resumptions: Cash compensation paid out under the Airfield (Kai Tak) Extension and Reversion Ordinance, 1948, amounted to $1,298,758.27. Cash compensation paid for resumption under the Rehabilitation Loan was $95,311.00 for 26 lots, and paid under the same loan by the District Commissioner, New Territories, for resumption in New Territories $3,304.38 for 4 lots.
DRAINAGE OFFICE.
CHIEF ENGINEER W. A. JOHNSON, A.M.I.Mun.E., A.R.I.C.S. (Acting)
89. The urban areas are drained by two separate sewerages systems; the larger carries off rainwater and the other foul sewage. Both systems functioned satisfactorily during the year and no major troubles arose either from typhoon and rainstorm damage or from other causes.
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STORMWATER DRAINAGE.
90. A small amount of flooding took place in certain areas due, in some cases, to insufficient capacity of the drains and in others to chokage following erosion from partly formed building sites, etc. Measures to prevent a recurrence were taken wherever possible; works of this type were carried out at Robinson Road, Wongneichong Road, Queen's Road Central, Carpenter Road, Valley Road, Cameron Road, Nairn Road and Tsun Wan.
91. The nullah in Argyle Street between Portland Street and the Railway Bridge was replaced by a reinforced concrete culvert. This replacement proved cheaper than rebuilding the nullah walls which were damaged by subsidence and provides an extra 10 feet width of carriage- way in the busy Argyle Street and also enables through traffic to proceed along Sai Yeung Choi, Tung Choi and Sai Yee Streets thus relieving Nathan Road.
92. Bridges were constructed over nullahs in Hing Wah and Tonkin Streets to enable Shun Ning Road to carry through traffic to relieve Castle Peak Road. A further bridge was made at Hung Hom to serve new rice godowns.
93. The increased density and weight of traffic frequently brings to light the poor state of many old central district stormwater culverts. They are invariably of masonry decked with granite slabs the thickness of which varies very considerably. Opportunities such as the raising of Queen's Road Central are taken to replace them with new culverts or to replace or strengthen the deck slabs according to their state.
94. Waste water from squatter areas and other overcrowded localities is received into stormwater culverts which are not designed for the purpose and the pollution caused has given rise to nuisances.
95. Considerable quantities of sand and débris were removed from open nullahs after rainstorms. The Government Sand Monopoly uses some of this material though the quantity of clean sand available for their purposes was not as great as in former years.
FOUL SEWERS.
96. Water-borne sewage, with a few exceptions, is discharged in a crude state through sea walls direct into the harbour where it is rapidly dispersed by currents. The growth of the water carriage system, now adopted for virtually all new buildings, combined with the large popula- tion has increased the flow in the sewers and nuisances now arise at some of the outfalls.
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97. Intensive redevelopment of the City areas and further expansion of urban development coupled with infiltration of sub-soil water and the entry of too large a proportion of rainwater has overtaxed some of the older foul sewers and surveys were carried out with the view to effecting some relief.
98. Investigations have been made concerning the 'no W.C. area' in Kowloon which drains into the Yaumati Typhoon Shelter with a view to formulating a scheme to enable buildings in the area, estimated to house 100,000 persons, to abandon the conservancy system.
99. The intercepting sewer laid in the main Kai Tak nullah in 1949 improved the situation then obtaining. However the increased quantity of waste water from squatter areas now discharging into the nullah and the increased flow in the intercepting sewer have again brought about an offensive smell which carries a considerable distance. A scheme for a further extension of the intercepting sewer has been prepared and proposals formulated for works to effect a permanent cure.
ANTI-MALARIAL WORKS.
100. Channels and trained nullahs were maintained in a satisfactory condition; minor repairs in the Peak, Mt. Parker Valley, Deep Water Bay and Kowloon Tsai areas being carried out as necessary. The few com- plaints of mosquito breeding were dealt with without great trouble or expense.
101. Further nullah training was carried out near South Bay Road, Repulse Bay.
102. Gaugings were taken during the dry season in nullahs from which flushing supplies are taken in order that full use might be made of the flow available. The increase in the number of water closets coupled with water restrictions makes it difficult to ensure proper supplies during the dry season though it has not been found necessary to discourage the adoption of the water carriage system.
WORKS ON PRIVATE ACCOUNT.
103. Works under this head increased largely due to the construction by this office, with a view to adoption for future maintenance, of storm- water and foul sewers for private building estates; notably Jardine's Lookout, Kowloon Tsai, K.İ.L. 1203 Soy Street and N.K.I.L. 3594, Boundary Street.
104. Over 5,000 feet of stormwater and foul sewers were laid, more than 600 sewer connexions were provided and a footbridge was erected over the Boundary Street nullah for the Military Authorities.
15
105. The issue of accounts direct from this office was commenced in June and some 360 accounts were issued. The total cost of private works carried out exceeded $320,000.
106. Advice on drainage matters was given to various Public Works Department offices, particularly the Buildings Ordinance Office, and assistance was also given to private developers in connexion with drainage schemes for housing development and other problems.
WORKS CONTINGENT ON LAND SALES.
107. Considerable works were carried out in the earlier part of the year but due to curtailment of private building activity a number of schemes planned for the 1st quarter of 1951 have not yet been required.
108. Stormwater and foul sewers laid aggregate 31 miles in length; the longest individual extensions being those in Tai Hang Road to serve Jardine's Lookout Estate and in Mission Road..
1
109. New foul sewers were laid in the Cheung Sha Wan area enabling existing buildings to adopt the water carriage system. Extensions were also laid at Tai Po and Tsun Wan. Stormwater culverts in Junction Road and Hau Pui Loong Road were laid to enable land to be filled by public dumping to form new building sites.
RECLAMATION SCHEMES.
110. Stormwater and foul sewers up to 60" diameter were laid to drain landward areas through the North Point Reclamation; this work is still proceeding.
111. Investigations were carried out for drainage works in connexion with Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon City, Hung Hom and Shaukiwan reclamations. Surveys for Causeway Bay and Central Reclamations were commenced.
REHABILITATION WORKS.
112. Replacement of drains totalling 3,000 feet was carried out. As redevelopment progresses in war damaged areas e.g. Hung Hom, replace- ment of lost and damaged sewers continues to be necessary. · Damage, presumably caused by bomb blast travelling up sewers, continues to make itself apparent from time to time.
113. Rehabilitation Loan Funds for the replacement of drainage works were virtually exhausted.
MISCELLANEOUS.
114. The number of chokes in sewers has increased and over 8,000 were cleared during the year by direct labour. Some 1,500 small repair works were undertaken, mostly by contract. Safety precautions continued to be observed and no accidents took place in the sewers during the year.
16
115. Following an increase in the value of scrap, thefts of cast iron manhole covers again took place though the vigilance of the police has kept the problem from assuming important proportions.
116. The tardy delivery of stoneware pipes from Britain continued to hamper work; it has not been possible to obtain acceptable locally-made stoneware pipes whilst good-class local concrete pipes prove more expen- sive than imported stoneware pipes.
* 117. A considerable mileage of existing drainage works was surveyed during the year yet there remains much work to be done to bring the records up to a satisfactory standard.
118. Drainage schemes were prepared for the Deep Water Bay area and for the New Territories towns of Shek Wu Hui, San Hui and Yuen Long though no works of importance have yet been commenced.
119. The maintenance of a number of small septic tanks serving development near bathing beaches has been carried out as necessary. Chlorination of the effluent from the Repulse Bay septic tank was commenced.
120. Numerous minor works necessitated by road improvements, new Government buildings, etc. were carried out as required.
ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE.
CHIEF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER
J. C. BROWN, B.Sc., M.I.E.E., A.M.I.Mech.E.
121. As in previous years this office carried out a great variety of work of an electrical and mechanical nature for other offices of the Public Works Department and for most other Government Departments, includ- ing the complete electrical installations in new buildings constructed during the year, the maintenance, repair and overhaul of upwards of 750 vehicles and some 150 items of electrical and mechanical plant and the construction`in the works of special appliances and equipment.
122. Difficulty was still experienced due to the continued physical separation of the Electrical & Mechanical Section of this office pending the construction of new offices and workshops.
123. During the year some improvements were carried out at Caroline Hill workshops including the construction of a lubrication bay and black- smith and welders' shop in timber and asbestos sheeting, an additional concrete servicing ramp, a wash bay and a 10 feet road round the compound.
17
V
124. New workshop plant and equipment received and put into use during the year included a 20′′ stroke shaping machine, a 15" swing lathe, a 131" swing lathe, a crankshaft grinding machine, a band saw, a plano-grinder, a honing machine, an "in-line" boring bar, a steam cleaning machine and battery charging rectifiers, etc.
125. Electrical work undertaken during the year included the design, lay-out and complete installation of electrical wiring and equipment in Queen's College (711 points), King's College (529 points), Queen's Road East Vernacular School (286 points), the Colonial Secretary's Residence (81 points), the Chief Justice's Residence (119 points), Kowloon Junior School (253 points), Radio-Sonde Station (58 points), Kowloon City Market (102 points), Chatham Road Camp (447 points), Kowloon City Police Station (1,100 points), Yuen Long School (91 points), Fauling Police Camp (111 points), Castle Peak Police Station (130 points), Shatin Police Station (130 points), Sai Kung Police Station (130 points), Tsun Wan Police Station (130 points), Kowloon Waterworks Workshops (150 points) and Cheung Chau Marine Station (61 points). A considerable portion of this installation work was carried out in concealed wiring. In addition rewiring was carried out in some 260 buildings involving an approximate total of 9,500 points.
126. The 5-ton air-conditioning unit at the Supreme Court was modified to improve its efficiency, the 50-ton air-conditioning plant at Queen Mary Hospital was completely overhauled and brought as far as possible into line with modern practice. Some 719 refrigerators, 43 air- conditioning units ranging from 2 h.p. to 5 h.p. and 22 lifts were main- tained in good order.
127. On 31st March 1951, the total number of vehicles in Govern- ment service which were being regularly serviced, maintained and over- hauled by this office was 761 comprising 190 cars, 442 lorries and 129 motor cycles. The difficulty noted in last year's report of keeping a large number of ex-Army vehicles in service was aggravated during the latter part of the year by the American embargo which dried up the local supply of spare parts for the American lorries which comprise the bulk of the fleet. A number of small general spare parts were made in the workshops and the recently acquired crankshaft grinder has been particularly valuable in reclaiming worn crankshafts. The new "in-line" boring bar and the cylinder boring bar purchased two years ago have been kept fully occupied.
128. Designs for all-metal bodies of special types have been further developed during the year. These include Cemetery Vans for the con- veyance of coffins, a Light Clothing Van for the conveyance of infected clothing and a new type of Nightsoil Bucket Carrier suitable for the con-
Daddy
18
Large pre-cast 13-ton concrete locks-seen in the background- were used to form a seawall at North Point. The slabs in the oreground pave the slipway in his area.
18
↓
Special barges are used for tipping stone at Kuntong to form a seawall prior to reclamation.
The bucket dredger "Hong Kong Netherlands Harbour Works Co dredges 100,000 cubic yards month for reclamations.
·
I ! I I I I E T
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Kowloon City Police Station, in addition to offices and cells, provides barrack accommodation for 204 men.
The new waterworks depôt in Argyle Street, Kowloon, replaces the former inadequate quarters in Shanghai Street.
دكم ياترم
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Two 8-storey blocks of flats in Central District for married Police rank and file were completed in
1 1
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لے کر مکھی کھی کھی کھو کہ در
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months using reinforced concrete
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box-frame construction
*
New quarters in Kowloon for married Police inspectors were completed in November,
1950.
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(Photograph by South China Morning Po The first of the Government's tuberculosis clinics, adjoining Kowloon Hospital, consists of X-ray, consulting
and staff rooms, and a spacious waiting room.
Queen's College was re-erected on reclaimed ground at Causeway Bay, with accommodation for 900 students.
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A Barber-Greene spreader was used to lay the bituminous carpet on a concrete foundation.
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Laying and vibrating an 8-inch concrete base course outside Edinburgh House.
RAISING THE LEVEL
QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL
between Pedder and Ice House Streets.
A maze of old cables and service pipes was re- laid during this operation.
S.D.
A new type of nightsoil-bucket with an all-metal body
carrier
designed and built by the mechanical section of the Public
Works Department,
A section of Queen's Road East is one of the many roads that have been recently re-laid with a vibrated concrete carriageway.
SECRETARIAT DESPATCH SERVICE
A
ليم الرحيل اے کے کے لی
من الموالي
25-cwt. van bodies of all-metal construction are being built locally to suit individual requirements of Government departments.
veyance of either metal or wooden buckets for the Urban Council; Troop Carriers and General Purpose Vans for the Police Force; a Black Maria for the Prisons Department; 25 cwt. House and Construction Service Vans for the Waterworks Office; a 25 cwt. Mail Van for the Post Office; 15 cwt. 6-seater Utility Cars, 15 cwt. "Pick-up" trucks and a 25 cwt. 13-seater Utility Van for general Government use. A prototype all-metal 25 cwt. van body has been built in the workshops utilizing jig-built frame members so that full advantage can be taken of this type of body construction in interchangeability and the replacement of damaged parts when required.
129. A 1,200 gallon Commer Cesspool Emptier/Street Washing Vehicle was delivered by the local agents and various modifications to suit local conditions were carried out prior to handing it over to the Urban Council. Ten new Karrier Moving Floor Refuse Collectors were also modified to suit local conditions and similar modifications were carried out on the remainder of the Urban Council's fleet of moving floor refuse collectors. This modification includes the fitting of an additional loader's platform at the rear, the covering in of the back axle, propeller shaft and petrol tank, and the boxing in of the frame channel members to protect them from the corrosive effect of sludge from the refuse which seeps through the joints between the slats of the moving floor.
130. In addition to keeping all mechanical plant in good order and repair, emergency generating sets have been installed and maintained in a number of Government buildings.
131. The implementation of the Government Motor Transport Com- mittee's report on the motor vehicle establishment of all Government Departments was authorized during the year. Emphasis was laid by the Committee on full use being made of the pooling of transport and the size of the transport pool, which is operated by this office, has therefore increased considerably and now comprises 215 vehicles. The pool, func- tions from its two main depôts, situated respectively at the mechanical workshops in Hong Kong and Kowloon, and two sub pools, one at the Colonial Secretariat and the other located near the Star Ferry in Kowloon. On the whole the operation of the pool has been successful and practically all demands for transport have been promptly met.
132. During the year under review a total of 231 applicants were tested for appointments with Government as car and lorry drivers and 157 passed and were engaged. The situation in regard to the supply of car and lorry drivers has improved considerably since last year. Various course of instruction in lorry driving were organized by this office for the Essential Service Corps and the Auxiliary Fire and Medical Services.
133. The operation of the stores section continued to give satisfaction. The Audit Department inspected the Stores Ledger transactions covering
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the period 1st April 1949 to 31st August 1950 and no errors were reported. 201 indents on the Crown Agents for the Colonies were pre- pared and forwarded and approximately 1,000 items of obsolete and unserviceable stores were put up for Boards of Survey and disposed of as directed. 5,000 receipt vouchers covering approximately 22,000 items and 75,000 issue vouchers covering approximately 156,000 items were handled during the year.
PORT WORKS OFFICE.
1
CHIEF ENGINEER H. W. FORSYTH, B.Eng., A.M.N.Z.Inst.E., A.M.I.C.E.
134. The activities of this branch of the Department fall roughly under three main heads-the maintenance of piers, sea defences and airport; new construction on reclamations and the airport; and the assess- ment and planning of new Port Works projects.
MAINTENANCE.
: 135. Maintenance of the Colony's public piers and those operated by the Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Co. Ltd. was largely a matter of attention to their fender systems. The restoration of deteriorated reinforced concrete sub-structures by guniting continued and the neglect of four years of Japanese Occupation has now been largely remedied.
136. Sea defences called for little attention except in the case of the main East and West breakwater to the Causeway Bay typhoon shelter. The replacement of some 500 square feet of pitching made good all damage to the profile.
137. On the airport at Kai Tak, the runway surfaces were strength- ened to cope with the increasing traffic and heavier loads of the new types of commercial planes. Reference to this work follows later.
138. Dredging: The two Priestman cub. yard grab dredgers gave excellent service in the removal of 220,000 cub. yards of silt brought down by the nullahs during the wet season and deposited along seawalls and in the harbours of refuge. Dredged material was dumped after an average 1a mile tow, adjacent to the city's sanitary refuse dump in Kuntong Bay on the N.E. side of the harbour. Towards the end of the year a floating re- clamation pumping set arrived in the Colony for reassembly, to work in conjunction with the grab dredgers. Designed to empty a 200-ton hopper barge in one hour, the barge is equipped with a 12" gravel pump and 12′′ diluting pump. Initially, the equipment will be used to cover up and raise the 16-acre city refuse dump to a level of +14' C.D. :
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NEW CONSTRUCTION.
139. A contract for the construction of underwater foundations for some 4,000 lineal feet of sea wall to retain future reclamations at Kuntong Bay and at North Point, and a 1,500 ft. length of 100 ft. wide open nullah to drain the high ground behind the former bay was completed in December. In all, the contract called for 454,000 cub. yards of dredging for foundations, the dredging and dumping of 475,000 cub. yards of sand for foundations, 230,000 cub. yards of hydraulic sand fill and the quarrying and placing of 113,000 cub. yards of granite rubble. The works under the contract costing $5,613,000.00 (£350,750) were completed in the contract time of 26 months.
140. In each locality foundations were excavated by means of bucket dredgers to an average depth from -40′ to -45′ C.D. with a maximum of -56′ C.D. These trenches were then filled with sand dredged from the harbour bed, dumped by 500 cub. yards hopper barges and mounded with side slopes of 1 in 2 to an elevation of -15′ or -20′ C.D. depending on the exposure to wave action. It was found that this profile remained unaffected by wave action or tidal scour below a depth of 15 feet and the use of sand in place of pell-mell rubble resulted in substantial economy. To protect the sand mound and build up through the zone of wave action up to -3.5′ C.D. granite rubble, roughly graded from 20-lb. to 2-ton stones, was dumped from 100-ton tipping barges. The finished profile of the rubble mound was given a seaward slope of 1 in 1 with a slope of 1 in 1 on the inner or reclamation side. The top of the mound was levelled off 17 feet wide 3′ 6′′ below chart datum to receive the precast concrete 20-ton foundation blocks of the future reclamation sea-wall.
141. The same methods were adopted for the construction of the nullah at the eastern end of the bay abutting the extensive new installation of the Asiatic Petroleum Co.. During dredging operations an unexploded 6′ long 2,000-lb. bomb was picked up in one of the buckets of the dredger. Two draglines levelled the sand-bed of the nullah to a longitudinal grade of 1/400 over the 1,500 feet length with a transverse grade of 1/50 from side walls to centre of the 100 feet width. Invert slabs were of plain precast concrete, 7′ 6′′ square × 9′′ thick, bedded on a 6" thick mat of 2′′ crushed stone. On completition of the invert, the gravity section nullah wall of coursed granite-faced mass concrete was built, also on sand, and some 220,000 cub. yards of sand pumped up behind it to an average eleva- tion +17' C.D. to extend the Oil Company's installation area.
142. At North Point a further contract was let in November 1950, for the construction of 1,000 lineal feet length of sea-wall on the subaqueous foundations referred to in paragraph 139. 15-ton precast concrete founda- tion blocks were bedded under-water on the rubble mound and from elevation +2.5′ C.D. a gravity wall of mass concrete faced with coursed
21
:
granite was completed to retain the reclamation fill. Behind the 1,000 feet of sea-wall the reclamation has been carried out by the public dumping of spoil from the development of building sites at a steady rate of 500 to 600 cub. yards daily to add a valuable 54 acres of waterfront ground for sale to godown, shipping or manufacturing interests.
One quarter
of the length of the sea-wall built under this contract was constructed as a quay wall to give a minimum of 10 feet of water fronting the new Port Works Office depôt and concrete casting yard. To facilitate the handling of heavy (20-ton) concrete blocks or the movement of heavy plant by lighter across the harbour, a loading basin with ramp was built into that portion of the wall within the depôt.
143. Improvements to Ferry Piers:- With the volume of cross- harbour passenger and vehicular traffic steadily increasing, ways and means were sought to provide further amenities.
144. An experimental ferry service had been started, running from the Public Pier at Tonnochy Road, Wanchai, to the Ferry Terminal at Jordan Road, in Kowloon. To shelter the pier users a roof of structural steel and R.P.M. sheets was erected and a pontoon moored alongside to overcome the lack of gangways. Almost from its inception this service carried approximately one million passengers per month, amply justifying the experiment.
145. A similar experimental ferry service on the lines of the above was instituted in August 1950 to run from the Wilmer Street pier on the Island to the same terminal in Kowloon.
146. On the Shamshuipo Pier at Kowloon the sheltered waiting area for passengers was substantially increased by the construction of a reinforced concrete barrel vaulted roofing at the open concourse area.
147. At the Jordan Road ferry terminal in Kowloon a serious over- crowding of the first class waiting area was relieved when the covered waiting area was extended to three times its original size and a further 1,600 square feet of concrete roofing was built outside the waiting area for the protection of passengers boarding buses.
148. Kai Tak Airport: One of the more important works carried out during the year was the resurfacing of the runways at Kai Tak Airport and the construction of a new taxi track and additional hard- standing area. The original system of runways at Kai Tak had been radically changed by the Japanese during the occupation years. They had constructed new runways some 4,700 feet long of poor quality concrete on a granite bottoming averaging 10′′ in thickness. Although the runways might have been described as being up to Dakota standard they proved
22
quite incapable of serving the expanding commercial traffic using Skymasters and Constellations. It was finally decided that sufficient strength could be obtained by rebuilding the worst of the Japanese work with sound foundations and good concrete, then sheeting the runways with a 31′′ thick flexible surface. On the grounds of economy and time the resurfacing was reduced to a 150 feet wide strip flanked on either side by a 20 feet wide feather strip tapering in thickness from 31′′ to 4′′. This work on the two runways, 4,600 feet and 4,800 feet respectively, was let on contract to a British firm. As far as possible mechanical methods were used and the contractors were restricted to the four months of the year prior to the rain commencing in May. After correcting the depressions the existing concrete runways were given a tack coat by a pressure sprayer. The 24" thick base coat was of open texture bituminous macadam of 11′′ max. granite aggregate mixed in a Barber-Greene central mixing plant and spread and consolidated by a paving machine of the same make. The 1" wearing coat consisted of asphaltic concrete " max. size aggregate with granite flour substituted for the more usual Portland cement filler mixed and spread by the same plant.
149. Concurrently with the above work a 50 feet wide taxi track parallel to the main runway was completed. Construction was of a 41′′ consolidated thickness of two coat bituminous macadam on an 18" thick bed of hardcore and granite sets.
150. Materials testing laboratory:- The work carried out and results achieved by this comparatively new section of the department more than justified its creation. From a small beginning a year earlier, with 150-ton Avery compression machine and some B.S. sieves housed in an old wooden shed re-erected at the Port Works Depôt, the arrival of equipment ordered on indent in 1947 was the opportunity to demonstrate the necessity for its being. Equipment restricted work to the testing of cements and concrete, bituminous products and soil foundations. The staff of the laboratory-superintendent and two assistants-made some 3,400 tests during the year. On the contract for the construction of the 1,400′ × 100′ nullah at Kuntong, the design of concrete mixes for the invert slabs with subsequent field control pushed the quality of this vibrated 1:6 mix to the point when some of the 6" cubes were beyond the capacity of the compression machine (9,333 lbs. per sq. in.) at 7 days. As a direct result of this, on the next sea-wall contract at North Point the mix for the precast foundation blocks was reduced from 1:6 to 1:8 with a consequent valuable saving in Portland cement. On this work with a 3" max. aggregate the 1:8 mix gave a steady 7,000 lbs. per sq. in. at 28 days and on occasions the strength was as high as 9,000 lbs. per sq. in. With cement costing $170.00 (£10-12-6d.) per ton the saving in cement alone by using the controlled leaner mix represents a direct saving of approximately $40,800.00 (£2,550) on the 4,000 cub, yards of
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precast concrete block-work in the contract. For the next contract, now being prepared, a mix of 1:9 will be used. With a 1:8 mix the density of the heavily vibrated concrete in the blocks averaged 154 lbs. per cub. ft.
151. For the contract of resurfacing the runways of the airport a small laboratory was set up on the site to control the grading of the granite aggregates and bitumen content of the bituminous macadam and asphalt turned out at the central mixing plant.
152. Further responsibilities were the examination of foundation conditions for new Government buildings and the examination of hundreds of boring samples from the harbour bed to ascertain the possibility of obtaining suitable sand for underwater foundations in dredged trenches and some millions of cubic yards of hydraulic reclamation fill for reclama- tions and possible airport extensions.
153. With an all-in annual cost of operation including wages, electric current and stores of $27,500 (£1,700), working with some $20,000 (£1,250) worth of equipment, the laboratory has proved itself a handsome invest- ment. With the growing appreciation of the work of the laboratory an increasing number of applications have been received for tests for private interests. Such tests are now being done at a small charge.
154. In conjunction with the building of a new works depôt for the Pork Works Office on the new North Point Reclamation and the rebuilding of the present pilot laboratory as a permanent institution on the same site, ways and means for the early establishment of stretching beds for the manufacture of prestressed concrete members are under consideration.
155. Miscellaneous works carried out during the year included the removal of a dangerous submerged reef obstructing a ferry berth, some 500 cub. yards of rock being removed by underwater drilling and blasting.
156. Investigation of submarine foundation conditions by borings were carried out for two large projects for 60 acres of reclamation and the construction of breakwaters for a possible new typhoon shelter some 65 acres in area.
157. A new light pier for passenger ferries and general us was com- menced in February at Silver Mine Bay on the Island of Lantao. This pier, with a 130 feet long approach causeway and 150 feet long jetty of steel with timber decking was nearing completion by the end of the financial year.
158. Hydrostatic surveys of the Colony's natural reservoirs were undertaken to determine the reduction of capacity by silting.
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ROADS OFFICE.
CHIEF ENGINEER R. H. WOODMAN, B.Sc. (Eng.) (Lond.). .
GENERAL.
159. The Colony's roads are undergoing a steady transformation from the light forms of construction suited to the traffic which they had to carry twenty years ago. The main trunk roads and many of the side roads were originally constructed with four or five inches of waterbound macadam supported by the lightest of foundations and either tar-painted or covered with a bituminous sand carpet. Although they have stood up quite remarkably to the tremendous increase in the daily weight of traffic many suffered badly due to complete neglect during the period of the Japanese occupation, and are now reconstructed.
160. Main trunk roads carrying bus routes and heavy traffic are being constructed of vibrated concrete protected with a 1-inch wearing surface of 3/8′′ bituminous macadam or, where for any reason concrete is not desirable, the road is formed of a 4-inch base of 14-inch bituminous macadam supported on a 9-inch foundation of hand-packed granite blocks and protected with a 1-inch wearing surface of 3/8′′ bituminous macadam.
161. Side roads in the City area have also been concreted in a number of cases but, particularly alongside markets and where street stalls are permitted, the bituminous surface has been omitted to permit easier washing down and to obviate the rapid surface deterioration which occurs on bituminous surfaces in contact with oils and fats.
162. In addition to increasing the loading on the roads the almost phenomenal increase in the number of private cars in the Colony intro- duced an acute shortage of parking space in the City area. Although official car parks were marked out in every available space the demand continued to be overwhelming and it was decided that the green lawns and formal gardens of Statue Square should be sacrificed. The measure is not intended to be permanent and steps had to be taken to ensure that at some future date it would be possible to make a complete reinstatement. After the area had been surveyed it was photographed from a number of angles and the Architectural Office, after numbering and scheduling every granite block, dismantled the statue plinths and the monumental pillars together with the wrought iron railings and gates and removed them to storage. The entire area to north of Chater Road was then graded to falls and covered with 3 inches of 14-inch bituminous macadam with a wearing coat 1-inch thick of 3/8′′ macadam. Car parks were marked out in herring-bone pattern with feeder lanes. Two hundred cars are now parked there daily and the situation generally has been greatly eased.
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163. The following table sets forth the total areas of the various types of surfacing laid on the Colony's roads during the year. The figures do not include the area covered by more than 75,000 small patching jobs which were undertaken in addition, by departmental labour:-
Area in square yards
Type of surfacing
Hong Kong
Kowloon
Total
8" cement concrete
5,714
8,016
13,730
6" cement concrete
31,518
· 10,822
42,340
4′′ cement concrete
3,139
3,139
21′′ grano, paving
23,405
28,461
51,866
4′′ Tar macadam
59,248
21,386
80,634
3" Tar macadam
40,987
8,708
49,695
4" Dry macadam
2,873
94,273
97,146
3" Dry macadam ̈
191
26,874
27,065
2" Tartops
9,748
1,088.
10,836
1" Tartops
128,451
203,533
331,984
Tarpainting
50,442
14,031
64,473
Bottoming
27,293
3,013
30,306
164. In addition to the vast amount of routine work contingent upon the maintenance of over 400 miles of highly urban roads the following works of special interest were carried out during the year.
RAISING OF QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL.
165. If town-planners of the past could have foreseen the incon- venience to which future traffic would be put, it is probable that they would have avoided leaving the big dip in Queen's Road Central where the new Edinburgh House was to stand. During heavy rains this section of the road was on occasion transformed into the semblance of a swimming pool with raised footpaths serving as sidewalks.
166. In view of the frequently recurring complaints of flooding in Queen's Road Central work began about 1920 on the scheme for gradually widening and regrading this busy thoroughfare. This in- volved re-aligning the road to a standard width of 60 feet and raising the level at some points by as much as 2′3′′.
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167. Among the first buildings to be erected to the new alignment were the Hong Kong Hotel, Shell House and Kayamally Building, Gradually the National City Bank of New York, the Bank of China, Taiping Building, Wang Hing Building, Sze Hoi Building, Marina House and finally Edinburgh House also conformed to this line until to-day only one old building, that housing the Hong Kong Furniture Co. remains. As compensation for the strips of land surrendered, the owners of these properties were granted modifications of the Buildings Ordinance.
168. With the building of the new substation at Zetland Street it was necessary for the Hong Kong Electric Co. to lay a considerable number of cables across and along both sides of the section of Queen's Road Central between Pedder and Ice House Streets, in order for them to connect with the existing distribution system. As this involved cutting up practically the whole of this length of road, the time was considered opportune to carry out the long delayed raising of the carriageway to approved levels.
169. All concerns having public services under the existing surface were accordingly informed of the proposals and requested to carry out such work as they considered necessary, and the work of raising the road was put in hand.
170. It was estimated that the whole work would be completed in 41 months, involving the partial closure of the road for one month, and com- plete closure for the remaining 3 months.
171. The majority of the Utility Companies commenced operations on 11th October, when the north half of Queen's Road, between Ice House Street and Pedder Street, was closed. The Hong Kong Electric Co. started work on the 16th November and by the 20th the whole of the road was closed. Roadwork commenced on the 16th November with the raising to formation level with quarry spoil and rubble, consolidating with mechanical rollers and rammers and the laying of kerbs and channels. On the 30th November concreting of the road slab commenced and at this stage the road resembled a battlefield with numerous trenches, pot-holes and heaps of earth and material lying all over the area. A total of 3,000 square yards of 8′′ concrete carriageway were laid piecemeal in 20' x 7'6" bays as and when the Hong Kong Electric Co. finished a particular section of their work. A 1:6 concrete consisting of rapid hardening cement, aggre- gate graded to a 2′′ maximum and a water cement ratio of 0.45 was adopted; the concrete being deposited and vibrated in 3 layers with heavy concrete vibrators. The whole was tamped to correct camber and scored to form a key for a bituminous coat. Tests revealed that the ultimate strength of the concrete was 2,000 lbs. per square inch at 9 days. The density was 152 lbs. per cub. foot, using aggregate from Morrison Hill Quarry.
27
172. On 17th December an area of 3/8′′ bituminous carpet 1" thick was laid with a Barber-Greene Spreader but because of the congested city traffic and output of the mixing plants only 15 tons or 320 square yards were laid per hour on a straight stretch of carriageway. It was found that city roads with their numerous manholes were not ideal places for the use of this machine. Altogether 1,480 square yards were laid by the spreader, the remaining 1,800 square yards around bellmouths, etc., being laid by hand.
173. The Utility Companies backfilled their last trench on 18th December and the closed section of the road was re-opened for traffic on Christmas Eve. The speed with which the whole job was carried out was due to the excellent co-operation and co-ordination of effort between the Department and the Public Utility Companies and if it had not been for a gas main which was unexpectedly found to require relaying, the work might have been completed much earlier.
RECONSTRUCTION OF AU TAU BRIDGE.'
174. Au Tau Bridge, located near milestone 27 on the Castle Peak Road just north of its junction with Kam Tin Road is the longest bridge in the Colony. It was originally constructed in 1915/16 and consisted of nine 30 ft. spans 16 ft. wide with two 12 ft. open abutments. Four longitudinal R.C.C. beams designed on the continuous span principle and carrying a 6′′ deck slab were supported on 14′′ square R.C.C. piles. Approximately 25 years ago this bridge was widened to 20 feet by the addition of a row of 12 x 6 R.S.J. piles supporting 17 x 6 R.S.J. beams, a reinforced concrete. deck being constructed between the existing bridge and the row of beams. In 1939 demolition chambers were built into the abutments and during the Japanese invasion in December 1941, these were blown. As a result not only were the abutments and end spans effectively wrecked, but owing to the continuity of the beams transverse cracks were found in many of the centre spans.
After the war the abutments and end bays were filled in as a temporary measure and the bridge put back into use. This had the effect of reducing the waterway by about 40 feet. In September 1949, a thorough inspection of the bridge was carried out and this showed that complete fractures which were attributed to direct settlement of the abut- ments and to overloading had occurred in three places. As the Military Authorities were at that time erecting a Bailey Bridge over the same stream to take their heavy traffic it was decided to take the opportunity of completely reconstructing the old bridge as soon as the Bailey could be used as a by-pass.
175. Construction of the bridge. The new bridge is 275 feet between abutments in 25 feet bays. The overall width is 36 feet divided into 3 units of 12 feet, each being simply supported by capped piers of 18′′ x 18′′ R.C.C. piles.
28
176. Owing to the urgency of the job no preliminary borings were taken but subsequent test piling and exploration by a 2′′ steel tube driven with a pneumatic hammer showed that very stiff greyish clay was encoun- tered at depths of 10 feet to 21 feet below the level of Principal Datum and following generally the spur of a hill running from the south abut- ment toward the north. The piles were precast with 1:4 vibrated concrete using granite aggregates graded to max., rapid hardening cement and a water cement ratio of 0.475. This was found to give average test cube results of 6,500 lbs. per square inch in 7 days and 7,800 lbs. per square inch in 28 days. They were handled in 7 days and driven in 14 days with a Vulcan No. 1 single acting steam hammer having a gross weight of 5 tons, striking part of 2 tons and a stroke of 3 feet to carry a safe load of 65 tons calculated from Hiley's Formula. A Lima crane was used for the handling and pitching of piles and also for suspending the lead and hammer. The bridge deck will comprise a 10′′ thick concrete slab with a thick waterproofing coat of mastic asphalt on top; each section being separated with expansion joints of sand mixed with asphalt retained in galvanized iron cups. The surfacing of the carriageway is to be laid with a 1" bituminous macadam 4′′ thick covered with 1′′ of 3/8′′ bituminous tops while the footpaths are to be surfaced with 24" of granolithic paving.
:
177. Construction of Approach Roads. The approach road to the south of the bridge, through a cutting, was constructed with an 8-inch 1:6 vibrated concrete slab using granite aggregate graded to 11′′ max., ordinary Portland cement and a water cement of 0.450. This gave an average test cube result of 5,000 lbs. per square inch in 7 days and 7,000 lbs. per square inch in 28 days. The concrete was vibrated in three layers with vibrating plates and after finishing to the proper camber the surface was heavily scored to form keys for the carpet coat. After 7 days the concrete surface was cleaned, a tack coat applied and a carpet coat of 3/8′′ bituminous tops 14" thick laid by hand and consoli- dated with a mechanical roller.
178. The northern approach road was founded on swampy ground which has been settling continuously. Because of this it was decided to construct the road with a foundation of 9′′ bottoming, a base course of 14′′ bituminous macadam 4" thick and topped with a 3/8′′ bituminous carpet 1" thick.
179. The work of reconstruction commenced in August 1950 and the bridge will be completed by the end of 1951.
QUARRIES.
180. The demand for crushed aggregate and bituminous material generally remained at a high level throughout the year while that for the
29
small types of aggregate increased to such an extent that the productive capacity of the existing quarry installations was exceeded and it was found necessary to let two small contracts for the supply of this type of material.
181. With the exception of the installation of the crushers and com- pressors, delivery of which have been delayed, the reconstruction of Tsat Tse Mui Quarry was completed during the year. The foundations for this machinery have already been laid and pending delivery which is expected in the course of the next few months, arrangements have been made to install old crushers as a temporary expedient.
182. A contract for the removal of the overburden was let and the work practically completed by the end of the year, good use being made of this material in the North Point Reclamation Scheme.
183. The output at Hok Un Quarry which is the main source of supply for the mainland increased considerably, and the overall cost of produc- tion has, as a result, been reduced considerably.
184. The small quarry at Hung Shui Kiu has been operated satisfac- torily and the output of rubble and crushed aggregate although limited has proved of value in this area of the New Territories.
185. The following table shows the output of all types of quarry products compared with that for the previous year:—
Crushed Aggregate
Tons
Tarred Materials Tons
Quarry
1949/50
1950/51
1949/50
1950/51
Hok Un Quarry
40,510
46,776
25,928
32,233
Morrison Hill Quarry
73,303
54,444
24,935
29,887
Hung Shui Kiu Quarry
2,375
6,670
419
Nil
WATERWORKS OFFICE.
WATER WORKS ENGINEER LEONARD JACKSON, B.ENG., A.M.I.C.E. (Acting)
GENERAL.
186. Undoubtedly the most important aspect of the water supply of the Colony during 1950/51 was the ever-increasing consumption. With no addition to the resources during the year the further increase in con- sumption resulted in still greater restrictions in the hours of supply,
30
Jadi kummin mita 12 a
which were reduced from 15.5 to 13.5 hours per day, with the exception of two days at Chinese New Year. This was necessary during the summer in order to keep consumption within the limits of filtration capacity and during the winter in order to conserve supplies.
187. As a result of this the distribution system is seriously overloaded when the supply is on. Much of the system has not been improved since it was installed to meet a demand of 12 million gallons per day in 24 hours, whereas now the same mains are being called upon to distribute over 30 million gallons in only 101⁄2 hours. This implies a peak flow probably three times as much as that for which the mains were designed. Even compared with last year the average rate of distribution per hour increased by 14.3%. A start was made in the last quarter of the year on a large-scale main-laying programme designed to eliminate the bottle- necks in the distribution system.
188. With increasing consumption, it became necessary to speed up Waste Detection work and in November the first area was tested. The value of this work was soon demonstrated and by the end of the year it was estimated that a wastage of 0.856 million gallons per day had been eliminated.
189. With the delivery of more meters and in the interest of reduction of waste it was possible before the end of the year to return to universal metering, including all supplies to Government Buildings though this has not yet been in operation long enough to provide complète statistics. The total number of metered services was increased from 27,511 to 32,037 during the year.
190. Replacement of the two steam-engined pumping plants with diesel and electric-driven pumps was commenced towards the end of the year with the receipt of some of the engines and pumps from the United Kingdom.
191. An event of major importance in view of the ever-increasing amount of work being carried out in Kowloon was the completion of a new depôt in the Mongkok district of Kowloon.
192. An interesting experiment was made during the year to deter- mine the amount of silting up of the Tytam Reservoir. The contours of the reservoir were plotted from soundings and an evaluation of the amount of silt showed it to amount to only about 5% of the total capacity. Unfortunately as no original contours are available, the calculations are based on the capacity table for the reservoir and no more detailed analysis is possible. As this is the uppermost reservoir in the Tytam Valley and nearly seventy years old the result is considered very satisfactory. A similar survey on the Kowloon Reservoir was also commenced..
31
b. 193. Owing to shortage of staff no major improvement schemes were started during the year, the available staff being required for maintenance of the supply. Further surveys and borings, however, were carried out in connexion with the proposed Tai Lam Chung scheme.
1
a self-
194. The Waterworks continued to be administered on supporting basis and in spite of rising costs, continued to show a profit without any increase in water charge.
SUPPLY.
195. Rainfall. Rainfall for the year as recorded at the Royal Obser- vatory was 83.49 inches, 0.77 inches less than the average for the period 1884-1938. The rainfall on the Waterworks catchment areas, however, varied from 46.36 inches at Yuen Long to 101.02 inches at Shing Mun.
196. Consumption. The total consumption of water from the Water- works excluding the 317 million gallons supplied by the New Territories village works was 12,226 million gallons, or a daily average of 33.5 million gallons. This was only 0.15 million gallons per day less than last year although the hours of supply were reduced by almost 13% and is more than accounted for by the savings due to Waste Detection. The reduction in the total supply was reflected in a slightly better storage position at the end of the year with which to commence the critical months of April and May.
197. Storage.
as follows:
Details of storage in the impounding reservoirs are
Date
Storage in Million
Remarks
Gallons
1st April 1950
2,406
This was considered dangerously low.
1st April 1951
2,483
More drastic restrictions and savings
from Waste Detection.
21st April 1950.
12th, 13th & 14th
1,985.69
Minimum for year.
Maximum possible storage.
August 1950, 6th
5,970.80
(All reservoirs full) on 4 days only.
October 1950.
On 100 days between 14th June and 17th October.
One or more reservoirs were over-
flowing to waste.
32
198. Distribution. The total of 12,226 million gallons supplied during the year was distributed as to 4,556 million gallons on the mainland and 7,670 million gallons on the Island of which 2,285 million gallons or 29.8% were supplied via the cross-harbour mains from the mainland reservoirs.
199. The hours of supply and average daily consumption throughout the year were as follows:
Month
Hours of supply per day
Days
Average daily consumption in millions of gallons
April
12 hrs. supply
1950
[6.30 a.m.-1.30 p.m. 14.00 p.m.-9.00 p.m.
1st-3rd
26.95
10 hrs. supply
6.30 a.m.-1.30 p.m. 15.30 p.m.-9.00 p.m.)
4th-30th
May
10
hrs. supply
6.30 a.m.-1.30 p.m. 15.30 p.m.-9.00 p.m.).
1st-14th
14
hrs. supply
(6.30 a.m.-8.30 p.m.)
15th-21st
31.79
15
hrs. supply
(6.30 a.m.-9.30 p.m.)
22nd-31st
June
15
hrs. supply
(6.30 a.m.-9.30 p.m.)
1st-4th
17
hrs. supply
(6.00 a.m.-11.00 p.m.).
5th-30th
37.36
17
October
July August...... 17 September... 17 hrs. supply
12 hrs. supply
12 hrs. supply
14 hrs. supply 16 hrs. supply 17 hrs. supply
12 hrs. supply
November... | 12 hrs. supply
December... 12 hrs. supply
|
hrs. supply
(6.00 a.m.-11.00 p.m.)
1st-31st
39.96
hrs. supply
(6.00 a.m.-11.00 p.m.)
1st-31st
40.64
(6.00 a.m.-11.00 p.m.)
1st-20th
6.30 a.m.-1.30 p.m.
February
March
101 hrs, supply
January 1951
12 hrs. supply
101 hrs. supply
101 hrs. supply
Full supply 101 hrs. supply
4.00 p.m.-9.00 p.m. 6.30 a.m.-1.30 p.m. 14.00 p.m.-9.00 p.m. (6.30 a.m.-9.00 p.m.) (6.30 a.m.-11.00 p.m.) (6.00 a.m.-11.00 p.m.)
6.30 a.m.-1.30 p.m. 14.00 p.m.-9.00 p.m.
}
6.30 a.m.-1.30 p.m. 14.00 p.m.-9.00 p.m. [6.30 a.m.-1.30 p.m. 14.00 p.m.-9.00 p.m. (6.30 a.m.-1,30 p.m. 14.00 p.m.-9.00 p.m. (6.30 a.m.-1.30 p.m. 15.30 p.m.-9.00 p.m. 6.30 a.m.-1.30 p.m. 15.30 p.m.-9.00 p.m.
(Chinese New Year)
(6.30 a.m.-1.30 p.m. 15.30 p.m.-9.00 p.m. (6.30 a.m.-1.30 p.m.
a.m.-1.30 15.30 p.m.-9.00 p.m.
}
21st-30th
38.49
1st-2nd
3rd-5th
6th
36,45
7th-19th
20th-31st
1st-30th
32.54
1st-31st
30.92
1st-3rd
28.72
4th-31st
1st-4th
5th-7th
29.47
8th-28th
1st-31st
28.34
33
200. A full supply was thus maintained for 2 days only compared with 5 days in 1949/50 and 178 days in 1948/49 and the average hours per day were only 18.5 as compared with 15.5 in 1949/50..
201. This year for the first time it was considered advisable to impose an afternoon shut-down as early as the 20th October and to limit the hours of supply to as little as 10 hours per day for 93 days.
202. Unfortunately at the same time as it was necessary to restrict the hours of supply, water was lost by the overflowing of some or all of the reservoirs on 100 days between 14th June and 17th October. Greater advantage could not be taken of this available water on account of the lack of additional filtration.
203. Filtration. All supplies from the main waterworks, i.e. excluding only the New Territories supplies, are now both filtered and chlorinated. During the year automatic chloronomes were installed at two small out- lying filters on Hong Kong Island at Chai Wan and Wongneichong. Two more chloronomes were also being installed in New Territories sup- plies at Taipo and Tsun Wan at the end of the year.
204. Water Analyses. The purity of the supply was maintained at a high standard. Only 1% of the samples taken for bacteriological analysis at service reservoirs was below the standard of B. Coli absent in 100 c.c. and in no case was B. Coli present in 50 c.c. Of samples taken at taps under 6% showed B. Coli present in 100 c.c. or less, compared with 11% last year. Most of these cases were ascribed, on investigation, to faulty inside services. As regards chemical analysis the reports were 100% satisfactory. The sampling and testing for bacteriological and chemical analyses were carried out by the Government Pathologist and Government Chemist respectively.
205. Pumping. The distribution of the 12,226 million gallons necessitated the pumping of 2,766 million gallons before filtration and 2,667 million gallons after filtration. This latter figure is more than double that for 1949/50 due almost entirely to the concentration of filtra- tion at the new rapid gravity filters at Eastern and the conversion of the Bowen Road raw water gravity conduit to a filtered water pumping main.
206. Waste Detection. A start was made with one gang on the Island and two on the mainland. Altogether 64 area plans have been prepared and of these 13 have been checked over in detail on site. Of these areas 11 have been checked for waste with a resultant saving of 0.856 million gallons per day. (vide para. 188).
207. House to house inspection continued and 4,565 notices were served on consumers to alter or repair defective services.
34
S
208. An appeal to save water was printed in leaflet form in English and Chinese and 50,000 copies distributed, either by House Service Inspectors or by being enclosed with water accounts. A publicity film was also made for showing at local cinemas.
209. Metered Services. With the delivery of still more meters from the United Kingdom, it was possible to provide meters for all supplies, though not necessarily for individual floors.
REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE.
2
210. Major repair works carried out during the year included the sealing of the leaking scour valve at the Jubilee Dam. Unfortunately after the work was completed it was found impossible to open the damaged valve and it had to be abandoned with the result that although the leak is sealed, the scour pipe is no longer operative. Other items were the completion with the assistance of the Port Works Office of the repair to the cross-harbour mains by the replacement of joint covers and damaged bolts, and the replacement of the high pressure valve chamber for the No. 3 Steam Pump at Tytam Tuk.
211. Wit
211. With the completion of the new Kowloon Depot, with its self- contained meter repair shop, the repair facilities were at last able to meet the demands and by the end of the year as many as 2,683 meters had been repaired in one month in the two workshops at Hong Kong and Kowloon. Altogether 17,021 meters were repaired in the workshops and 10,217 on site during the year.
212. At the main depôt at Bullock Lane, further plant was installed temporarily in the existing workshop, including a heat treatment furnace, a 28′′/32′′ Lang Lathe, an Edgewick Twist Drill Grinder and two mobile Lincoln shield-arc welding generator sets. Designs were practically com- pleted for a new workshop. During the year the workshop carried out 931 orders of which 837 were for waterworks. Of outside work, the inspection and overhaul of boilers in Government buildings continued, though at the end of the year arrangements were made for the transfer of this work in the future to the Chief Electrical & Mechanical Engineer.
RENEWALS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
213. Eastern Filters Conversion. This scheme was completed by the dismantling of the 3 million gallons per day plant at Bowen Road and the installation of the fittings in the new Eastern structure to bring the capacity there up to a nominal 11 million gallons a day, but capable of overloading to 12 million when required. The whole of the water deliver- ed through the Tytam tunnel is now filtered in the new Rapid Gravity
35
I
plant at Eastern, the former beds at Eastern, Bowen and Albany are now redundant and the sites available for the erection of much-needed additional storage of filtered water.
214. Kowloon Depôt. A new depôt to house all the mainland maintenance staff and repair facilities was completed during the year. This depôt occupies 50,525 square feet of land fronting Argyle Street, Kowloon, in a much more accessible locality than the former very in- adequate premises in Shanghai Street. Within the compound is a two- storey block facing Argyle Street which houses offices upstairs and various stores and timekeepers' offices on the ground floor. On the north side of the compound leading off from the main block is a self-contained meter repair workshop capable eventually of accommodating 22 fitters, providing for a maximum output of approximately 2,000 meters repaired and tested per month.
A corresponding wing on the south side of the compound provides a small general workshops, blacksmith's shop, welding bay, pipe screwing bay and fittings test bay. In addition a small quarters block has been built to provide accommodation for two foremen and a standby gang. In the compound also is adequate storage space in the open, for pipes, castings etc.. The construction of the depôt met unexpected difficulties over foundations, as although one side of the site is in cutting in natural ground, the centre of the site was filling to a considerable depth, with the result that it was necessary to carry the whole of the building on piled foundations. The final cost was $412,068.34.
215. Red Hill Filters. These small rapid gravity filters are designed to meet the increasing demand from the Stanley Peninsula and surround- ing district. An indent had been placed in 1949 with Messrs. Candy Filters Ltd. and delivery commenced early in 1950. The designs for the building were made by this office, and a contract let in October 1950 for the construction of the buildings and access road. Due largely to slow delivery of fittings, works was not quite completed by the end of the year.
216. Bowen Road Service Reservoir. The storage capacity of the existing service reservoir at Bowen Road is too small to deal with require- ments of the area which this reservoir supplies. Plans were in the course of preparation for the construction of a reservoir of a capacity of about 5 million gallons.
217. Tytam Tuk Pumping Station. The present power units at Tytam Tuk Pumping Station consist of two electric-driven pumps, and three steam-driven pumps. Of the four existing boilers, two were condemned as unserviceable and in any case it is considered more economical to re- place the three existing steam power units by two diesel and one electrical units. The replacement of these pumping units necessitates the relaying of the connexions to the suction and rising mains. The special castings for the first stage of the work (ie. the installation of electric-driven pump) have been ordered.
36
218. Pokfulam Road Pumping Station. The present pumping units at this station consist of three steam-driven pumps which are most un- economical. It is proposed to replace these steam pumps by three diesel- driven units, but two of the existing steam pumps will be left in situ for use in an emergency. The three diesel-driven pumps have been ordered and delivery started in September 1950. The installation of one diesel pump was completed by the end of March 1951, together with the conver- sion of one of the disused boilers into a fuel oil storage tank.
219. Peak Pumping Mains. In conjunction with the replacement of the Pokulam Road pumps the delivery mains are being enlarged. Of these a new 15" diameter pumping main was laid to West Point Filters and work commenced on a new 8" diameter steel main to the 750′ tank. These mains will materially reduce the load on the pumps by replacing the common 8" diameter main which is too small and has reached the end of its useful life. Pipes also arrived for a new 8" diameter pumping main to the Peak to replace an inadequate and very old 5′′ diameter main. This will be laid during 1951/52.
220. Stand-by Pumps. To provide against a possible failure of the electric power supply all stations previously solely dependent on electric drive are being provided with an independent stand-by drive. At the two Aberdeen pumping stations, Perkins 6-cylinder diesel engines have been installed. The flexible coupling between the motor and pump was provided with V-belt grooves to enable the belt drive from the diesel engine to be taken direct on to the coupling in the event of failure of the power supply. The diesel engine ordered for Albany was still not delivered by the end of the year.
221. Shing Mun Conduit. This scheme is designed to replace an existing open conduit in a bad state of repair with a 36′′ diameter steel main. Delivery of the pipes ordered was completed in October 1950 and the pipes were transported direct to Shing Mun. A contract was let for work in connexion with the laying of the pipes. Work started on 5th February 1951 and approximately a quarter of the pipes had been laid by the end of the year.
222. Improvement to Fanling Supply. In connexion with the very large demand for additional water supplies by the many Military installa- tions in the Fanling area and also the development of such civil settlements as Luen Wo Market Town, the implementation of the resources of the inadequate Fanling water supply became a necessity. After giving consideration to various new sources of supply, the harnessing of a large stream (river Jhelum) in the vicinity of Hok Tau Village was decided upon. The gauging operations showed that after withdrawing 200,000 gallons per day to augment the Fanling water supply, the stream still could provide approximately the same amount of water for the irrigational
37
needs of the area. A concrete intake dam was constructed, also slow sand roughing filters, a service reservoir and attendant's quarters on a nearby site. The laying of 25,000 feet of 6" diameter asbestos cement pipe imported from Japan and of 1,200 feet of 4" cast iron victaulic joint pipes, linked the new intake with the existing pipe system. The work was completed at a total cost of $223,264.87. Although Military parti- cipation in sharing the expenses of the scheme were considered it was eventually decided that the total cost of the scheme should be borne by the Government and paid from public funds. The Hok Tau supply was brought into operation early in the year and since then no shortage of water has been experienced in the Fanling area.
223. Tai Lam Chung. Investigations and surveys continued for the proposed Tai Lam Chung scheme. Boring work was carried out to prove foundations for Lai Chi Kok service reservoir and the sites for the filters and pump house. Stream gaugings continued and a number of flood hydrographs obtained. Serveys were completed for the line of the aqueduct, all the various reservoir, pumping station and filter sites. Survey work at Tai Lam Chung continued.
MISCELLANEOUS.
224. Deep Bay Airport. Boring work with the diamond coring rig was carried out at Ping Shan for the Air Ministry. Altogether 26 bores were drilled, involving 1,063 feet of drilling of which 131 feet were in rock.
:
225. Alexandra Building. Boring work was also carried out for Messrs. Spence Robinson & Partners in connexion with the foundation investigations for a large new block of offices in the centre of the city. Three bores were completed involving 251 feet of drilling of which about 51 feet were in rock.
226. Central Reclamation. Boring work was also carried out off Murray Pier in connexion with the proposed central reclamation scheme. One bore was sunk to a level of 153 feet below the pier deck and a second to a depth of 48 feet.
227. Static Water Tanks. At the request of the Chief Officer, Fire Brigade, static water tanks have been constructed both on the Island and the mainland for the storage of water to be used for fire fighting in the event of an emergency. 17 such tanks have been completed in the Wanchai district of Hong Kong and 54 in the mainland urban area. Orders were placed during the year for 3 sets of diesel-driven pumps and the necessary pipes and fittings for a salt water fire fighting installation in the Hong Kong mid-levels area.
228. Revenue and Expenditure. To collect revenue, chargeable water accounts were sent out quarterly and supplementary and miscellaneous
38
accounts were rendered as due.
Approximately 130,000 water accounts were dealt with during the year, compared with 125,000 1949/50. Due to the fact that more meters were overhauled during the year, 15%-of water accounts had to be averaged compared with 10% in 1949/50. The same rates as those in force in 1949/50 were charged for water during the year under review, viz: $0.80 per unit of 1,000 galloons for trade and domestic purposes, and $2.00 per unit for shipping and construction purposes.
229. 3,900 accounts were issued during the year for work done for consumers on House Service Account. Approximately 5,000 Forms "F" (guarantee to pay water charges) were received and dealt with. 5,170 demand notes for deposit to ensure payment of water charges were sent to consumers.
EXPENDITURE.
230. The total expenditure during the year under review amounted to some $46,848,000 as compared with $50,993,000 in 1949/50. Appro- ximately $20,000,000 was spent on major public works and $15,000,000 on recurrent maintenance works. Salaries and other administrative costs accounted for some $4,000,000 while $8,500,000 represented Rehabilita- tion Loan expenditure, approximately 80% of which was required to pay for the restoration or replacement of war damaged Government buildings. · The following comparative statement shows the expenditure on Public Works during the four years 1947/48 to 1950/51.
Personal Emolu-
Year
ments and Other Charges
Non- Recurrent
Recurrent
Rehabilita- tion Loan
Miscell- aneous
Total
$3
$ 1947-48......
2,488,000 887,000
1948-49...... 3,644,000 2,605,000
1949-50.....
17,626,000
3,932,000
$
$ 6,235,000 14,486,000|
9,748,000 20,643,000
12,975,000 15,500,000|
$ 24,096,000
173,000 36,813,000
960,000 50,993,000
1950-51...... 4,051,000 19,369,000 14,473,000 8,578,000 377,000 46,848,000
1
THEODORE L. BOWRING, O.B.E., M.I.C.E., M.I.Struct.E.
28th June, 1951.
Director of Public Works.
39