工務司署年報 Public Works Department Annual Report 1951-1952

DIEU ET MON D'

FONG KONG

ANNUAL

DEPARTMENTAL

REPORTS

1951-2

PRICE: $ 4

•

DIRECTOR OF

PUBLIC WORKS

HONG KONG

ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORT

BY THE

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS

FOR THE

FINANCIAL YEAR 1951-2

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER,

HONG KONG.

CONTENTS

Paragraphs

INTRODUCTION

ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE

10 - 49

General ....

New Central Government Offices

Residential Buildings

Police Department

Education Department

Medical Department

25 28

Sanitary Department

29 35

Marine Department

Royal Hong Kong Defence Force

Fire Brigade

Department of Commerce & Industry

Post Office

Civil Aviation Department

Legal Department

Registration of Persons Office

Government Stores Department

Public Works Department

Maintenance

BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE

50 - 55

CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE

56 - 74

56 63

Crown Lands

Survey

Valuation and Resumption

DRAINAGE OFFICE

General

Stormwater Drainage

Sewerage

64 70

71 74

108

76 - 80

81 - 82

- -זיזיז

Anti-Malarial Works

Works on Private Account

Works Contingent on Development

Miscellaneous

ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE

100 - 115

PORT WORKS OFFICE

116 131

General

Maintenance

New Construction

Colonial Development and Welfare Schemes Routine Investigations and Miscellaneous Works

Materials Testing Laboratory

ROADS OFFICE

General

Reconstruction Policy

Reconstruction-City Roads

Other Reconstruction

New Roads

116

117 - 120

121 124

Miscellaneous

Reconstruction of Au Tau Bridge

Reconstruction of The Ma Niu Shui Bridge

Quarries

Traffic Control

Street Lighting

Other Works

WATERWORKS OFFICE

Paragraphs

85 91

92 - 99

138

www

125

126

129

130

131

132

164

132

134

135

136

137

141

142

145

146 - 150

151 - 152

153 155

156 160

161

162

163

164

165 234

165 - 170

171 - 193

INTRODUCTION

1. This Report covers the activities of the Public Works Department for the financial year ended 31st March, 1952.

2. During the year the operations of the Department were carried out under the direction of the Headquarters staff, by eight sub-departments, namely Architectural, Buildings Ordin- ance, Crown Lands and Surveys, Drainage, Electrical and Mechanical, Port Works, Roads, and Waterworks.

The expatriate staff of the Department comprised 133 officers and the non-expatriate 737 officers. The number of daily-rated artisans and labourers averaged 3,182.

4. Mr. A. P. Weir, M.I.C.E., M.I.W.E., Deputy Director, proceeded on leave on 26th October and Mr. J. Forbes, B.Sc., M.I.C.E., Waterworks Engineer, who returned from vacation leave on 22nd October, acted in the appointment for the remainder of the year. Mr. L. Jackson, B.Eng., A.M.I.C.E., M.I.W.E., Engineer, acted as Waterworks Engineer throughout the year.

5. Mr. J. H. Bottomley, E.D., A.M.I.Struct.E., F.R.S.A., Chief Building Surveyor, was seconded in October for special duties in connexion with the revision of the Buildings Ordinance and Mr. K. S. Robertson, B.Eng., Building Surveyor, acted in the appointment from 15th October until the end of the year.

6. Mr. H. W. Forsyth, B.Eng. (Civil), A.M.N.Z.Inst.E., A.M.I.C.E., Chief Engineer, Port Works Office, was on vacation leave from 15th September until the end of the year and Mr. J. J. Robson, A.M.I.C.E., A.M.I.Struct.E., Engineer, acted in the appointment.

General

Supply

Repairs and Maintenance Work

194 197

Renewals and Improvements

198 - 225

Miscellaneous Work

226

234

EXPENDITURE

235

APPRECIATION

236

INTRODUCTION

1. This Report covers the activities of the Public Works Department for the financial year ended 31st March, 1952.

3. The expatriate staff of the Department comprised 133 officers and the non-expatriate 737 officers. The number of daily-rated artisans and labourers averaged 3,182.

—

ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE

Chief Architect, A. M. J. Wright, A.R.I.B.A., A.R.I.C.S.

General

10. A five-year programme of major public works was approved and good progress was made on the planning of build- ings included in this programme.

New Central Government Offices

11. Details of the planning of the building were given in iast year's report. The old Volunteer Headquarters was demo- lished in September, 1951 in order to clear the site for the first portion of this development, and in December, 1951, a contract was let for site formation. This work was completed in February, 1952. By the end of the year all working drawings were completed and considerable progress had been made with the specification.

Residential Buildings

12. Albany Flats. Fourteen flats, each comprising a living room, dining room, two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen and servants' quarters were erected on a site just above the Botanical Gardens. Building work was commenced in April, 1951, and was completed in February, 1952.

13. Severn Road Houses. Before the war Nos. 403, 404 and 405, The Peak, situated in Severn Road, were large houses in single occupation. All three buildings were badly damaged during hostilities and, at the end of the war, only the external walls were left standing. In 1949 alternative schemes were

prepared for (i) rehabilitating these houses each as an individual house and (ii) conversion of each house into two semi-detached houses. Last year a third scheme was prepared to convert each house into two flats and it was this scheme that was finally approved. The accommodation provided consists of a living room, dining room, two bedrooms, large covered verandahs, kitchen and servants' quarters. A contract was let and work commenced at the end of December, 1951.

14. Peak Bungalows. A pair of semi-detached bungalows, which before the war were used as subordinate officers' quarters, have since the war been used firstly as a temporary police station and latterly as a Waterworks and P.W.D. Depôt. Although the building was still standing at the end of the war the fabric was in a bad state, and, as post-war rehabilitation had been on very austere lines, plans were prepared during the year to modernize these bungalows for use as quarters and to provide water-borne sanitation in place of the old dry latrines. The accommodation provided for each bungalow consists of a living room, two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen and servants' quarters. At the end of the year the working drawings were nearly completed.

Police Department

15. Rank and File Quarters, Hollywood Road, Hong Kong. Details of this scheme were referred to in last year's report. The quarters themselves were completed in April, 1951, and were opened by Lady Grantham on 11th April, 1951. As there were still funds available on the vote, permission was given for the erection of a recreation centre attached to the quarters and this additional building was completed in June, 1951.

16. Rank and File Quarters, Canton Road, Kowloon. This scheme was referred to in last year's report as working drawings were commenced during the year 1950-51. In addition, how- ever, to the co-operative shop, medical clinic and recreation. centre referred to in that report, it was decided also to include a

ten-classroom school for the use of the children of the 369 families who will be living in the quarters. Piling work on the foundations was completed in November and a contract was let for the building work in December, 1951.

17. Pat Heung Police Station. This Police Station was referred to in last year's report as "Kam Tin Blockhouse". The accommodation consists of barrack accommodation for thirty. men, two flats for the officer-in-charge and a sub-inspector, normal Police offices, garage accommodation and a drill yard. A contract for this building was let in December, 1951.

18. Sha Tau Kok Police Station. Final sketch plans were drawn up to satisfy the requirements of the Commissioner of Police. The accommodation provided comprises barrack accom- modation together with mess and recreation rooms for 74 rank and file, six N.C.Os, four sub-inspectors, an interpreter and a female searcher. In addition provision has been made for the usual Police Offices, Kennels for Police Dogs, garage space and a drill yard. Work was completed on the approach road and considerable progress was made on the preparation of working drawings.

19. Police Headquarters. High priority was given to the preparation of the drawings for a new Police Headquarters at Arsenal Yard. The site is to be developed in three phases. Phase I-main administrative offices, including armoury, magazine and control room, Marine Police Station and four flats for married officers. Phase II-Police store, transport depôt and workshops. Phase III-offices and depôt for the Emergency Unit and Traffic Branch and quarters for Police personnel. As soon as the overall site layout for all three phases had been approved, detailed plans were prepared for phase I in accordance with the requirements of the Commis- sioner of Police and considerable progress was made on working drawings. In March, 1952, work was commenced on the diver- sion of a large stormwater culvert which cuts across the site.

20. Hutted Accommodation. A standard type of hutted accommodation was evolved giving dormitory and ablution facilities for constables and N.C.O.'s. Five units were con- structed at the Police Headquarters, Kowloon, one at Sham Shui Po Police Station and two units at Upper Levels Police Station, providing accommodation for approximately 500 men.

Education Department

21. Grantham Training College. It was pointed out by the Director of Education that, without a college for the training of teachers, it would be useless for Government to embark on a large scale programme for the erection of primary schools. The highest priority was given therefore to the erection in Kowloon of a teachers' training college to be known as the "Grantham Training College". The scheme comprises a building consisting of three general-purpose lecture rooms, a demonstration room, nature study laboratory, homecraft room, workshop, gymnasium, library with book-binding room, ten tutorial rooms for private study and a refectory. In addition an assembly hall completed with stage and dressing rooms which could be used independently of the main school building was required. Plans of this build- ing were commenced in April, 1951 and a contract was let in October, 1951. Excellent progress was made with the building work which was nearly completed by the end of the year.

22. Aberdeen Primary School. Sketch plans were pre- pared for a new primary school at Aberdeen consisting of twelve classrooms and two handwork rooms, together with a covered playground which can be adapted for use as an assembly hall. A great deal of study was put into the planning and detailing of the classroom block as it is hoped to make these plans standard for all other primary schools, with a resultant saving in time and cost. The site chosen was virgin hillside. and a contract was let in March, 1952, for the considerable amount of site formation required to be done before building work could be undertaken.

23. Ho Tung School. This school is to be erected on the site of the old Belilios Reformatory at Causeway Bay. Sketch plans were commenced in January, 1952, and the accommodation to be provided comprises twelve classrooms, four handwork rooms and a covered play area adaptable for use as an assembly hall.

24. Taipo School and Extensions to King's College. Owing to shortage of staff in the Architectural Office, private architects were commissioned to undertake these works. No building work had commenced at the end of the year.

Medical Department

25. New Wards, Kowloon Hospital. This scheme was referred to in last year's report. Work was completed at the end of August, 1951.

26. Central Medical Dispensary. This scheme was re- ferred to in last year's report. Building work was completed in May, 1951.

27. Extension to Outpatients' Department, Kowloon Hos- pital. As a result of the serious over-crowding of the existing out-patients and casualty block at Kowloon Hospital, the Architectural Office was instructed in August, 1951, to prepare a scheme for extending the existing building to provide a new casualty block. The scheme provided for a large central work- ing space with adjacent examination cubicles and operating rooms. Building work was commenced in January, 1952 and considerable progress had been made towards completion by the end of March, 1952.

28. Central Supply Room, Queen Mary Hospital. Sketch plans were prepared for a central supply room at Queen Mary Hospital, including blood donors' cubicles, a laboratory, sterilizing room and storage space. The scheme was approved by the Medical Department and good progress was made on the preparation of working drawings.

Sanitary Department

29. Kowloon City Market. This building was referred to in last year's report. Building work was completed in April, 1951.

30. Hung Hom Market. A new "light construction" market with 75 stalls was built at Hung Hom, work being com- pleted in March, 1952.

31. Wo Hop Shek Cemetery. The farewell pavilion and garages referred to in last year's report were completed in April, 1951. During the latter part of 1951 the staff quarters, which had been vacated by the Military Authorities, were rehabilitated for use by cemetery staff.

32. Latrines at Cheung Sha Wan. Two public latrines were erected at Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon. A standard plan was evolved for these latrines consisting of male and female water closets and washing space on the ground floor with care- takers' quarters on the first floor. In addition, provision has been made for the erection of bath-houses (male and female) on the first floor at a later date.

33. Latrines at Monmouth Path, Queen's Road East. small latrine in Monmouth Path, which had to be demolished to allow for road widening, was re-erected on an adjoining site.

34. Abattoir. Owing to the specialist nature of the work involved, it was decided that the Abattoir buildings should be designed by specialist architects in the United Kingdom, work- ing in close collaboration with the suppliers of the machinery.

35. Squatter Areas. A design was prepared for a sectional transit shed, in timber, to accommodate 96 people. Four were constructed at Chai Wan and one on the site of the Tung Tau Fire. Almost one mile of security fencing was erected on the Chai Wan Tolerated Area, and a scheme was drawn up for converting the temporary police post on Island Road into a permanent station. No work was started. A police station for the Ngau Tau Kok site was designed and estimates submitted, but no work was authorized.

Marine Department

36. A contract was let in February, 1952, for a Marine Licensing Station at Tai O. The accommodation provided con- sists of offices, seamen's quarters and two flats for supervisory staff.

Royal Hong Kong Defence Force

37. The new headquarters for the Royal Hong Kong Defence Force on the old Civil Service Cricket Club ground at Happy Valley was completed in September, 1951. The accom- modation provided consists of a large lecture room convertible into a canteen, a small lecture room, medical inspection room, offices for Force Headquarters, armoury and armourers' work- shop, miniature rifle range, covered parking area for regimental vehicles and a large paved parade ground. In addition, a three- bedroom house for a senior warrant officer is also provided.

Fire Brigade

38. Kowloon Fire Station. Owing to the nature of the site. at the corner of Prince Edward Road and Tong Mei Road, piling was necessary. This piling was started in January, 1952, and completed at the end of March, 1952, by which time tenders had been called for the main building. The accommodation provided in the Fire Station consists of an appliance room for five fire- fighting appliances, two ambulances, two tenders, a staff car and a number of trailer pumps. Living accommodation is provided for sixty firemen, six sub-officers, two Station officers and five senior officers. In addition, there are offices for the Fire Brigade staff stationed in Kowloon, a gymnasium and recreation room, a drill yard with a drill tower and properly fitted work- shops for mechanics, carpenters, painters, sailmakers, etc.

39. Tsun Wan Fire Station. A small fire station was erected at Tsun Wan with accommodation for a 15 cwt. lorry and trailer pump and living accommodation for four firemen, together with a small watch room.

Department of Commerce & Industry

40. Sheung Shui Revenue Station. This revenue station, which was referred to in last year's report was completed in August, 1951.

Post Office

41. Alterations to Post Office Building. Work continued on the modernization and improvement of the Post Office Build- ing generally, with particular reference to the portion of the building occupied by the Post Office. A goods lift and two mechanical hoists to facilitate the sorting of mail were installed.

42. Sham Shui Po Post Office. Working drawings were completed during the year for a sub post office at Sham Shui Po. It was decided, however, that the erection of this building should not be proceeded with.

Civil Aviation Department

43. Radio & Weather Station, Waglan. A revised scheme was prepared for the Radio and Weather Station at Waglan. It was designed to cover the requirements of the Department of Civil Aviation, the Royal Observatory and Cable & Wireless, Ltd. No building work was commenced.

44. Radio & Weather Station, Cheung Chau. Drawings for a similar station at Cheung Chau were also prepared.

Supreme Court

45. Alterations were completed to the Supreme Court Building to provide chambers for an additional Puisne Judge. Schemes were also prepared for the provision of District Courts one at the Supreme Court building and another in the Kowloon Magistracy building.

Registration of Persons Office

46. Additional offices were built of permanent construction adjacent to the wooden huts at North Point occupied by the Commissioner of Registration. The accommodation provided consists of a general office, storage rooms, a film store and additional lavatories.

Government Stores Department

47. Owing to the large amount of reinforcing steel held by the Government Stores Department at North Point, it was decided to erect a two-storey building, the ground floor of which would be used for storing steel and the upper floor for use as a general store. Owing to the nature of the site, piling was necessary and this was completed in February, 1952. Construc- tion of the main building started immediately afterwards.

2 plans for 2 Churches

7 Theatres

Public Works Department

48. New Workshops for Electrical & Mechanical sub- department. A scheme was prepared for new offices, stores and workshops for this sub-department.

Maintenance

49. Routine and programme maintenance was carried out on all Government buildings. Many minor alterations and additions were made to Government buildings in order to improve or add to existing accommodation.

155

3,208

•

BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE

Chief Building Surveyor, K. S. Robertson, B.Eng. (Acting).

50. The erection of new buildings on new and old sites and the reconstruction of many old buildings continued on a scale greater than that of the previous year. In particular, mention is made of the erection of large blocks of offices, several churches and cinemas. Work on some housing schemes was proceeded with and 803 buildings were completed.

51. In all, 4,208 plans were approved in respect of 7,445 buildings of which details are set out below:-

219 plans for 492 European type houses

256

799 Chinese type houses

45 Workshops and Factories

59 Godowns and Stores

··

73 Temporary Buildings

185 Site Plans

221 Repairs

5,344 Alterations and Additions

10 Schools

1 Film Depôt

23 Garages

22 Quarters

1 Restaurant

17 Office Buildings

2 Boarding Houses

1 Orphanage

6 Club Houses

1 Dormitory

24 Minor non-Domestic Buildings

110 Demolitions

52. Occupation Certificates were issued for 183 European type, 411 Chinese type and 209 non-domestic buildings.

53. Miscellaneous Notices issued comprised 369 for dan- gerous buildings, 13 in respect of emergency shorings, 165 in respect of 215 drainage nuisances and 818 for removal of illegal structures. There were 16 prosecutions.

54. 539 drain tests were carried out in various districts.

55. Miscellaneous inspections carried out consisted of 864 in respect of licensed premises, 48 in respect of collapses and landslides and 7 in respect of fires.

CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE

Superintendent of Crown Lands and Surveys, M. I. De Ville, F.R.I.C.S.

Crown Lands

56. Revenue. The total amount of revenue billed, includ- ing $338,820.76 collected by the District Commissioner, New Territories, as compared with the previous year was as under:-

Premia on land sales, etc.

(3) Extensions Granted

(4) Conversion &

Exchanges

Hong Kong Kowloon

New Kowloon N. Territories

Hong Kong Kowloon

New Kowloon N. Territories

1950/51

1951/52

62,914.00 4.00

96,795.81 31.20

291,717.87

1,403.00

4,446.00

160,204.44

7,847.00

152,460.00

6,405.50

100,276.00

10,589.00

24,294.24

100,389.78

Hong Kong Kowloon

135,153.00

20,456.00

13,082.00

New Kowloon N. Territories

(6) Piers

Hong Kong Kowloon

181,800.00

New Kowloon N. Territories

$5,950,279.93

$4,387,943.65

(5) Extension of Terms

of Leases

Boundary Stones and Survey Fees

Permit Fees

Plans sold to the public

1950/51

$5,950,279.93

1951/52

$4,387,943.65

44,616.97

2,253,236.23

20,326.72

2,340,445.10

1,831.00

2,146.00

$8,249,964.13

$6,750,861.47

57. A detailed comparison of premia derived from land sales, extensions and conversions with the figures for the previous year is as under:-

(1) Sales by Auction

Hong Kong Kowloon

New Kowloon N. Territories

1950/51

1951/52

$ 586,520.00 $ 312,828.49

598,300.00

2,661,900.00

886,390.00

183,233.33

267,500.00 154,300.00

(2) Sales without Auction Hong Kong

313,355.00

424,557.00

540,253.00

2,019,898.00

3,821.42

Kowloon

New Kowloon N. Territories

10.00 246.00 14,842.00

58. Nine free grants were made to charitable institutions and schools during the year, three for Hong Kong and the others for the mainland.

59. Permits. Permits issued for the occupation of Crown Land for short periods were of a miscellaneous character. Some details are as follows:

(a) In Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Kowloon 1,017 new permits were issued and 384 permits were cancelled for various reasons. The total number of permits in force at the end of the financial year was 4,981 and fees collected amounted to $2,275,602.12.

(b) Three temporary pier permits were issued and annual rent amounting to $50,509.00 was collected during the

year.

(d) In the New Territories, excluding New Kowloon, the permit fees collected amounted to $64,842.98.

60. Drawing Office. The number of plans prepared was 20 sets for sales, 201 sets for leases, and 38 sets for surrenders. 106 tracings and 4,263 sunprints were produced and 1 survey sheet was traced. 1,469 plans were supplied to Government Departments and 92 prints supplied to the Public realized $2,146.00.

61. The "Copycat" printing outfit produced 6,277 prints and the "Photostat" reproduction outfit produced 2,273 prints.

62. Maps of Hong Kong and New Territories were pro- duced for the Hong Kong Annual Report.

63. With effect from September this Office was responsible for producing Progress Photographs for the whole of the Public Works Department, and 267 photographs were taken; 213 contact prints and 484 enlargements were produced. this work was carried out by contract.

Previously

67. Miscellaneous Surveys. The following miscellaneous surveys were carried out:

(a) For road widening and rebuilding schemes 33 areas or road alignments were set out.

checked.

(b) 272 Building and frontage lines for 109 lots were

68. Colony Survey. New and Revision surveys of some 370 acres involving 34 miles of detail traverse were carried out.

69. Contour Surveys & Levelling. Contour Surveys cover- ing a total area of 550 acres were completed. Spot levels were taken over a number of areas covering a total of 39 acres. 3,500 feet of direct levelling was made. The annual computation of mean sea level was carried out and recorded as 3.95 above Principal Datum, Hong Kong.

70. Survey Sheets. 61 new sheets on a scale of 1:600 and 9 on a scale of 1:1200 were taken up.

Survey

64. Trigonometrical Survey. One minor trigonometrical station was established, and iron tripods were erected on three other stations in the New Territories.

65. Revenue Surveys. Surveys were made (a) for lease plans for 184 lots covering 29 acres, (b) for renewal of Leases for 11 lots covering 8 acres and, (c) for surrender plans of 76 lots covering 2 acres. 145 lots covering 797 acres were set out and 775 boundary stones were fixed to mark 200 lots.

66. Control Traverses. 13 miles of main control traverse 28 new Picket and 4 miles of minor control traverse were run. Boxes were fixed and 17 Picket Boxes were given new values.

Valuation and Resumption

71. Valuations totalling $76,830,261.00 were made in respect of 695 hereditaments during the financial year. These valuations were required for estate duty purposes, resumption for street widening and other town planing, purchase and sale of property by Government, renewals of Crown Leases, exchanges, and premium to remove lease restrictions. In addition, Depreciation Fund contributions, premia by instal- ments and commutation of Crown Rent were computed.

72. Over half of the hereditaments valued were for Government departments other than the Public Works Depart- ment.

73. To enable the Squatter Re-settlement Scheme to be implemented, methodical resumption of Survey District Lots near Tung Tau Village was commenced in December 1951, and at the end of the financial year notices had been posted on 118 lots, compensation for which was awaiting determination by Arbitration.

Cash compensation

74. Compensation on Resumption. paid out under the Airfield (Kai Tak) Extension and Reversion Ordinance, 1948, amounted to $103,354.40. Cash compensation paid for resumption under Rehabilitation Loan was $143,164.65 for 39 lots, and paid under "Advances: H.M.G.-Extension of Runway at Kai Tak and Airstrip at Sek Kong" was $86,085.64 for 67 lots resumed plus $9,082.03 for crops growing thereon at date of resumption.

DRAINAGE OFFICE

Chief Engineer, W. A. Johnson, A.M.I.Mun.E., A.R.I.C.S.

Albany Flats.

General

75. The work of this sub-department embraces the con- struction and maintenance of public sewers and stormwater drains including nullahs and outfalls, advising on the drainage aspects of areas under public or private development, supplying and laying sewer and stormwater connexions between buildings and public mains, and bridging or decking over open nullahs when required by building or other development.

Stormwater Drainage

76. Open nullahs in the urban areas frequently caused offence during the dry season on account of contamination by refuse from the many squatter areas which at present drain to them via stormwater channels; considerable expense

was

Royal Hong Kong Defence Force Headquarters.

Grantham Training College.

Chater Road as reconstructed.

Extension to Kowloon Hospital.

Machine Shop, Caroline Hill.

Au Tau Bridge, New Territories.

الصيانه صفه

HERBERT MORRIS LID-LOUG, BOROUGH-ENGLAND-10 TONS

Bullock Lane Workshop.

Ma Niu Shui Bridge, New Territories.

Elliot Pumping Station.

HING CO

Causeway to Kellett Island.

North Point Block Yard.

incurred in cleaning them out. A number of old nullahs constructed with granite setts were re-inverted and the falls improved. Considerable quantities of the sand which collected in some of the nullahs were removed by the Government Sand Monopoly but in many cases pollution was so severe that the sand proved to be useless for building purposes. The degree of pollution of nullah sand depends largely on the incidence of rainfall and varies considerably from year to year.

77.

A bridge was constructed over Tonkin Street nullah to enable Shun Ning Road to be formed to take traffic and thus relieve Castle Peak Road. Bridges were also constructed over Waterloo Road Nullah at three places. Work has commenced on the diversion of Sung Wong Toi Nullah to join the main Kai Tak Nullah.

78. Repairs were carried out to the reinforced concrete deck of the Wongneichong Nullah by guniting and over 6,000 sq. ft. of surface was treated.

79. A short length of open nullah in Portland Street was culverted, thus removing a big obstruction to traffic and provid- ing a relief route for Nathan Road.

80. A scheme was prepared and partly completed for the conveyance of stormwater through the reclamation at Causeway Bay and works of a similar nature were carried out for the North Point Reclamation.

Sewerage

81. Minor nuisances from foul sewers occurred with greater frequency during the year due, in part, to rebuilding in certain areas of the Central district and the consequent increase in the local density of population. The situation was aggravated both by the severe water supply restrictions which

19 ين

caused protracted periods of minimal non-scouring flow to be followed by peak flows beyond the designed capacity of the system and by the introduction of excessive quantities of storm- Efforts were made water to the sewers during heavy rainfall. to reduce the latter nuisance and a number of illegal connexions were diverted. The number of chokes cleared from sewers and stormwater drains increased during the year and totalled over 4,000 on the Island and over 5,000 in Kowloon, and during the same period more than 1,000 repairs were carried out to sewers.

82. Nuisance caused by the discharge of crude sewage into the harbour became more pronounced due to the increase in the number of water-borne sewage installations coupled with the severity of water supply restrictions. Investigations were commenced into the possibility of providing a measure of treat- ment to the sewage before discharge in order to bring the pollution of the foreshores and harbour within more desirable limits.

Anti-Malarial Works

83. Minor maintenance was carried out to anti-malarial works and channels, and trained nullahs were maintained in a satisfactory condition. A large proportion of the dry-weather flow in stream courses which pass through the urban areas is now tapped and piped to buildings for sanitary flushing purposes.

Works on Private Account

84. Requests for drainage connexions between new build- ings and the Government mains were many, and the policy of laying sewers and stormwater drains on private land at the expense of the owners was continued when it could be anticipated that the land would in due course be surrendered and that liability for future maintenance would become a public charge. During the year over 600 connexions were laid and more than 6,000 feet of sewer and stormwater extensions were constructed under private accounts.

Works Contingent on Development

85. An intercepting sewer was laid in the future Cheung Sha Wan Road to provide sewerage facilities for the nearby industrial area and to serve future development.

86. A short length of sewer was laid in Stanley Village and preparations made for further extensions to provide modern sewerage for the considerable development now taking place.

87. A contract was placed and work commenced on the diversion from Arsenal Yard of a large stormwater culvert and a foul sewer in order to clear the site of the proposed new Police Headquarters.

88. The re-inverting of a number of old culverts with granite setts was carried out.

89. Drainage services were laid in readiness for the further development of the upper Blue Pool Road area.

90. Preliminary investigations were made concerning the formation of recreation areas at Sookunpoo and Hau Pui Loong. 91. Over 9,000 feet of new public sewers and stormwater drains were laid in connexion with land development.

Miscellaneous

92. An interesting project was carried out in the New Territories near Tai Wai Village where the bed of the Shing Mun River had become filled with debris from mining operations, mostly carried out during the Japanese occupation, and the river had flooded the adjoining paddy fields depositing quantities of debris and rendering many fields useless. A new channel was cut along the original line of the river, involving the excava- tion of over 30,000 cubic yards of gravel and boulders, and protective embankments were formed with the excavated materials.

93. Site formation for a Pilot housing scheme for workers at Sheung Li Uk was carried out by direct labour using the

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departmental excavator and dumpers. Further work in con- nexion with this site involved the construction of a length of 84" stormwater culvert.

94. Schemes for the better drainage of squatter areas were considered and in some cases works were commenced towards the end of the year.

95. The replacement by a 9" dia. cast iron pipe of the first section of an old and undersized sewer near Mount Kellett sited within the Waterworks catchment area was completed.

96. A drainage scheme for the development of a large housing estate at Kowloon Tong was prepared.

97. The customary close liaison was maintained with the Buildings Ordinance Office which, together with other Public Works Department offices, were advised on drainage matters.

98. Accounts for works carried out on private account by this office continued to be issued direct and 418 accounts were issued.

99. The greater part of the office records were lost during the war years and survey work for their re-plotting continued as opportunity permitted. Considerable areas still remain to be surveyed.

ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE

Chief Electrical and Mechanical Enginner, J. C. Brown, B.Sc., M.I.E.E., A.M.I.Mech. E.

100. During the year a change was made in the work under- taken by this sub-department and electrical installations and maintenance work in Government buildings was handed over to The Electrical & Mechanical Office the Architectural Office.

continued to carry out all work in connexion with vehicles, and electrical and mechanical plant including lifts, motors, construc- tional plant and domestic appliances.

101. In June, 1951, the decision was taken that the new combined offices and the electrical and mechanical workshops are to be located at Caroline Hill, the present site of the main office and the mechanical workshops. Sketch plans were prepared and it was hoped that work could be started in 1952-53 but due to financial considerations the project had to be postponed. This is unfortunate as the physical separation of the electrical and mechanical sections of this office creates great difficulties.

102. New workshop plant and equipment received and put into use included a Hartridge fuel pump test bench and nozzle tester, a guillotine shearing machine, a Cincinnati milling machine, a Besco hand operated universal folding machine, an electric sewing machine for upholstery work, a 24′′ combination wood planer and a Crypton electrical test bench.

103. The electrical workshops manufactured various articles including special hospital and office equipment and lighting fittings for the Grantham Training College. One parcels lift and two mail lifts were installed at the General Post Office. 10 perimeter lighting installations including those at the Green Island Gunpowder Depôt, the Government Stores and the Water- works Workshops were carried out

104. Prior to handing over this work to the Architectural Office the number of buildings rewired amounted to 80, including Kowloon Hospital, Central Fire Brigade Building, Central Magistracy and 40 Government quarters.

105. Electrical wiring was installed in 24 new buildings including Red Hill Filters, Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market, Sheung Shui Revenue Station, Aberdeen Fish Cold Store and Fish Drying Plant and R.H.K.D.F. Headquarters.

106. A 2-ton air conditioning unit was installed at the Radio Sonde Station and another at the Identification Bureau, Police Headquarters. The installation of air-conditioning units rang- ing from 3 to 2 H.P. was also carried out at Medical Stores

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(North Point), Film Store at Queen Mary Hospital, Judges' Chambers at Supreme Court and Blood Bank at Queen Mary Hospital. Ventilation systems for Volunteer Centre, Sai Ying Pun Hospital, General Post Office Basement and Central Radio Control Room were installed. Tender documents and specifica- tions were prepared for the air-conditioning systems in the New Government Offices and New Police Headquarters. In addition a Dust Extraction System was designed, constructed and installed at Tsat Tse Mui Quarry.

107. At the end of the year the number of vehicles in Govern- ment service which were being regularly serviced and repaired was 837 comprising 236 cars, 479 lorries and 122 motor cycles. New vehicles put into service included 1 Commer Street Washer and Cesspool Emptier, 1 Humber Super Snipe Saloon Car, 10 Land Rovers, 2 Ford X-Ray Vans, 3 Karrier Refuse Collectors, 6 Commer 5-ton Tippers and 1 Commer "Black Maria” Van. 30 vehicles were put up for Board of Survey and disposed of. In respect of the Ex-Army Dodge 3-ton lorries which comprise 40% of the load carry fleet, spare parts to the value of some $100,000 were ordered from the United States. This means that it will be possible to extend the lease of life of these vehicles by two to three years.

108. Body building on purchased chassis carried out by contract or by direct labour during the year included 4 Water- works House Service Vans, 1 Waterworks Construction Service Van, Fifteen 6-seater Utility Vans, Eleven 15-cwt. "Pick-up" Utility Vans, One 25-cwt. 3-Way Van, Three 25-cwt. Open Body Lorries and Four 25-cwt. General Purpose Vans. The all metal types of bodies now being constructed locally have proved very successful in practice and a considerable reduction in body main- tenance work is to be anticipated in consequence.

109. Besides the normal service of repairing or overhauling all mechanical plant, 15 air raid sirens were installed at Police Stations on lattice towers constructed in the mechanical work- shops.

110. The installation of a 55 KW. diesel-electric generating set and two petrol engine for emergency operation of boiler fuel pumps at Queen Mary Hospital and a petrol engine generating set at General Post Office was carried out.

111. It has often been experienced in the past that the lack of a vital item, which was unobtainable in the market, occasioned a "bottle-neck" thus delaying repairs to mechanical plant or vehicles. This, in many cases, was overcome by having parts manufactured in the mechanical workshops using the available machinery and some ingenuity. Various articles of this sort made in the shops during the year included spur gear wheels, bronze bushes, rear axle half shafts, pistons, connecting rods, universal spider couplings, brake drums, gun nozzles for sand blasting, valves for internal combustion engines and cross shafts and radial arms for screens at Tsat Tse Mui Quarry. A start was also made in manufacturing pneumatic vibrators and several were put into operation.

112. The operation of the Transport Pools continued to give satisfaction, and 228 vehicles were operated from the two main pools situated at the workshops in Hong Kong and Kowloon respectively and the two sub-pools at the Colonial Secretariat and Kowloon Post Office respectively. During the year a daily average of 210 details was carried out and in addition a daily cross-harbour lorry delivery service for the Public Works Department was maintained.

113. A total of 165 applicants for posts as drivers were tested and the 130 who passed the test were engaged.

114. A course of instruction in lorry driving for conscript members of various Units of the Essential Service Corps was organized at the beginning of the last quarter of the year. By the end of March 1952, 65 per cent of these trainees had attained a satisfactory standard of efficiency.

115. The stores section of this sub-department handled 12,292 receipt vouchers covering 33,975 items with an approxi- mate total value of H.K.$1,878,000 and 75,340 issue vouchers covering 149,819 items with an approximate total value of H.K.$1,823,000. 200 indents on the Crown Agents were pre- pared and forwarded during the year. All stores held on charge were inspected and checked by two Boards of Survey.

PORT WORKS OFFICE

Chief Engineer,

J. J. Robson, A.M.I.C.E., A.M.I.Struct.E., (Acting).

General

116. This sub-department had a full programme of work which can be classified under five main heads:-

(a) maintenance of sea walls, piers and miscellaneous

dredging work.

(b) new constructional work in connexion with land

reclamation schemes and public piers.

and miscellaneous works.

(e) Materials Testing Laboratory.

Maintenance

117. The repair and maintenance of the public piers in the Colony are undertaken by annual contract, and also by direct labour. The work generally consists of the renewal of fendering systems, repairs to handrails, decking and deck girders, and

repainting all exposed steelwork. During the year a skilled direct labour gang was employed for six months on the restora- tion of deteriorated reinforced concrete sub-structures by means of guniting, three piers having been so treated.

118. Work on sea walls and defences was of a minor character only. Typhoon damage necessitated the relaying of part of the pitched slope sea defences at Green Island and the repair of an old sea wall at Shaukiwan Fish Market.

119. The sheltered waters of Hong Kong Harbour are normally self-cleansing but, due to heavy soil erosion during typhoon rains, small areas near to stormwater outfalls tend to silt up. During the year these deposits were removed by regular maintenance dredging with two 5/8 cubic yards Priestman Grab Dredgers which worked in conjunction with four 200 cubic yard hopper barges and two powerful tugs. The barges were emptied hydraulically over the 16 acre refuse dump in Kowloon Bay by means of a 12′′ diameter pumping set, mounted on a ficating pontoon and capable of pumping 130 tons of sand, silt and mud per hour. This material covered the refuse dump with a thin layer of sand and silt which considerably reduced the fly and mosquito breeding nuisance.

120. In addition, the dredgers were engaged on the removal of underwater rocks after blasting, deepening the approach waters to Tai O and Cheung Chau, dredging foundation trenches for the canal wall at Causeway Bay and dredging rubble from the existing Causeway Bay breakwater to dump in the cause- way to Kellett Island. A total of 180,000 cubic yards of material was dredged during the year.

New Construction

121. One of the most ambitious reclamation projects since the war is the Causeway Bay Reclamation Scheme. This pro- ject, when completed, will provide 55 acres of level ground urgently required for recreational purposes on Hong Kong

Island and a new typhoon shelter of 65 acres to accommodate junks and small craft during storms. Construction commenced on August 10th, 1951, with the dredging and sandfilling of trenches in the sea bed which totalled 4,000 lineal feet in length and which formed the foundation for the three principal rubble breakwaters. This work involved 211,744 cubic yards of Work on dredging and 246,703 cubic yards of sandfilling. the construction of the east wall of the canal, which will run along the side of the existing shelter, commenced in December, 1951 and proceeded rapidly. Public dumping in the existing typhoon shelter behind the canal wall and along Causeway Bay Road started in November, 1951 and formed the bund which is necessary to retain and resist the scouring action of some 1,500,000 cubic yards of material which will be dredged from the harbour bed and pumped hydraulically into the shelter. Approximately 90,000 cubic yards of material was dumped up to the 1st April, 1952.

122. The second major work of new construction, known as the Central Reclamation Scheme, was started during the year. The work entails the construction of approximately 2,140 lin. ft. of sea wall along the central portion of the sea front between the Naval Dockyard and in a westerly direction towards the existing Vehicular Ferry Pier at Jubilee Street. It is divided into two stages. Stage I only has so far been approved com- prising 935 ft. of sea wall from the Naval Dockyard in a westerly direction and 415 ft. of temporary return granite pitched slope to seal off this first stage of the scheme pending the construction of the second stage. Contract drawings for the sea wall construction have been prepared and allow for a sea wall 43' overall in height for the 200' adjacent to H.M. Dockyard which will facilitate the berthing of R.N. Ships; the remaining section of sea wall is planned to be 16′-6′′ in height with an underwater foundation of granite rubble dumped pell mell on to a sand filled trench. During the year dredging and sand filling for the foundations were completed. Close liaison with the Utility Companies and Services was necessary during the

initial dredging work as underwater cables had to be moved, protection provided for the cross harbour water mains and a scheduled time-table arranged and co-ordinated with the Ferry Company and Naval Authorities.

123. A further major reclamation scheme, started before the war and re-commenced in 1947, was taken a stage further when 654 lin. ft. of sea wall was constructed at North Point at a cost of $431,000.00. This sea wall followed the standard pattern of the section of walling constructed on this site last year and forms an extension to it. Three layers of concrete blocks were placed on a rubble mound foundation to raise the level from -3.50 C.D. to +5.25 C.D. and on top of these blocks a granite faced, concrete retaining wall was constructed to give a final cope level of +14.00 C.D. This seawall encloses a further 230,000 sq. ft. of foreshore, part of which was reclaimed by public dumping and forms a valuable additional area for development.

124. Part of the reclaimed area at North Point has been allotted to this sub-department as a depôt, pre-casting yard and site for the permanent P.W.D. Testing Laboratory to replace the present site at Arsenal Yard which is required for the new Police Headquarters. Large areas of concrete surfacing were laid to form the central pre-casting yard and the provision of heavy lifting appliances has facilitated the work of loading heavy mass concrete blocks on to transporting barges for delivery to the various sea wall or pier projects.

Colonial Development and Welfare Schemes

125. Colonial Development and Welfare Schemes occupied a prominent place in the work of the sub-department during the year. They comprise three distinct items as follows:-

(a) Construction of Public Pier and Reclamation at

Cheung Chau Island. New Territories.

Cheung Chau, one of the most important fishing ports in the Colony, is situated in close proximity to the Hong Kong market, has a good sheltered harbour and is the base for hundreds of fishing boats. The work carried out consisted of the provision of a new reinforced concrete pier 130' long and 30' wide to replace the old dilapidated Kai Fong Pier, the con- struction of a 30' hard with steps down to the sea, and dredging to give 10' of water at all stages of the tide; this should greatly assist the development of the Island. The pier was built on 14′′ × 14′′ reinforced concrete piles, and a special feature was the use of pre-cast reinforced concrete sections for the deck beams and slab thus permitting them to be cast under ideal con- ditions in Hong Kong at the Port Works Depôt and eliminating expensive site timbering. This system of construction also reduced site concrete to a minimum and the final cost of $43.30 per sq. ft. of area (including cost of R.C.C. Piling) is a guide to the economy of this type of work. The total cost of this scheme was $290,000.

(b) Construction of a Public Pier & Access Road-Tai O,

Lantau Island, New Territories.

Tai O with about 8,000 inhabitants and situated on the extreme westerly tip of Lantau Island is the largest centre of population on the Island and the fourth fishing port of the Colony. Two piers, the Police Pier and Kai Fong Pier, already exist, but both only provide sufficient depth of water for sampans and shallow draught vessels. Ferry boats and other deep draught craft have to discharge and load their passengers and goods at sea by means of sampans and, as Tai O is very exposed to a south westerly swell, this practice tends to loss of goods and discomfort of passengers. The lack of a deep water berth accessible at all states of the tide has been a deterring factor in the development of the port and hinterland. The new pier, almost completed at the end of the year, has absorbed the existing Police Pier and is constructed in the form of a solid

quay wall, consisting of heavy mass concrete blocks manufac- tured in Hong Kong and transported and placed in position at Tai O by means of barges and heavy lifting gear. The blocks were founded on rubble dumped into a specially dredged trench and levelled underwater by means of divers. The dimensions of the new pier are 200' long and 30' wide; vessels drawing 10' of water will be able to berth at all states of the tide. The construction of the new pier has also necessitated the construc- tion of a causeway 500 ft. long to give road access from the pier to Tai O Village. The work is estimated to cost $446,500. (c) Survey Party for the location and preparation of improvement schemes in the outlying parts of the New Territories.

A special staff of 1 Assistant Engineer, 1 Engineering Surveyor, 1 Chainman and 4 Survey Coolies was recruited in December 1951 for the preparation of local public works schemes in cutlying parts of the New Territories in accordance with priorities assigned by the District Commissioner, New Terri- tories. It is intended that the actual work should be carried out by the local villagers. Surveys and schemes were prepared during the year for access roads from the public pier to the village at Silver Mine Bay and at Tai O, Lantau Island, a com- plete Town Planning Layout for the Silver Mine Bay area, a new public pier at Ping Chau, and a Town Planning Layout and up-to-date drainage scheme for Cheung Chau Island. This survey party covered much valuable ground and, should the local villagers be in a position to complete the schemes prepared, a valuable contribution will have been made to the development of these outlying districts.

Routine Investigations and Miscellaneous Works

126. Throughout the year the general survey section was fully employed with land and hydrographical surveys, site investigation and land and marine borings in connexion with current or proposed schemes. These were not all in connexion

with Port Works Schemes as the land boring gang were con- stantly in demand by other offices and for a period of three months were employed on site investigations for the new Police Headquarters at Arsenal Street. Marine borings, which reveal the nature of the sea-bed, were carried out continuously and the results were used in the design of the new Star Ferry Piers and the exploration for sand deposits so necessary for the major reclamation schemes.

127. The Government Diver and his crew had a wide variety of tasks consisting of the inspection and repair of the two 21′′ cross harbour water mains, the location, inspection and charting of wrecks in and around Hong Kong waters, the inspection of the Star Ferry Piers prior to their annual general repair, the survey and demolition of underwater obstructions by means of an improvised adaptation of the war time "Bee-hive" type of explosive charge and complete underwater progress inspections of all reclamation, sea wall and pier projects.

128. Miscellaneous tasks carried out during the year where as follows:

(a) The removal of an obstruction to the East-West runway at Kai Tak Airfield known as the "Flat-Topped Hill." This scheme involved the removal of 80,000 cubic yards of earth by directly employed labour, utilizing the P.W.D. "R.B. 19” Bucket Excavator, 3 "Ransome" 4 Cubic Yard Tippers and 4 Tipping Lorries. The monthly average quantity of spoil moved was 10,000 cubic yards which was tipped at Ma Tau Kok to reclaim 108,000 sq. ft. of valuable building land from the sea. (b) Supervision of public dumping into sea reclama- tion areas to which contractors' lorries brought debris from house demolitions, site formations, old road materials and spoil from slides. The total volume of debris dumped amounted to 304,000 cubic yards.

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(c) Erection of reinforced cement concrete navigation beacons, navigation lights and radar beacons on isolated dan- gerous reefs in the waters of the Colony.

129. Initial investigation and preparation of preliminary plans was possible to a limited extent for certain works approved under the Five Year Programme. The chief items which received attention were as follows:

(a) New Star Ferry Piers for Kowloon and Hong Kong

Island.

(b) Kowloon City Pier for the Yaumati Ferry Co.

service.

(d) Kowloon Bay West Reclamation Scheme.

(e) Extending the runways at Kai Tak Airfield to

permit modern aircraft to land in safety.

Materials Testing Laboratory

130. The P.W.D. Laboratory is administered by this office and since its inception in January 1950 has carried out more than 12,150 varied tests on engineering materials. For the main part these tests have been on behalf of Government but requests from private contractors, architectural and engineering firms are also received occasionally and undertaken for a nominal charge. The use to which the laboratory facilities have been put has increased steadily with each month, the general tests carried out being as follows:-

(a) soil analysis of site samples from bore holes or

trial pits.

(b) analysis of building materials delivered to all major Government engineering and architectural works.

(c) progress analysis of site prepared materials includ- ing complete control tests of all concrete aggregate grading, mix proportions, water content and con- crete compression tests. The direct effect of this close control of site work has resulted in economy of materials and an improvement in the standard of work produced by contractors.

131. The present laboratory is housed in a temporary wooden hut at Arsenal Street, but plans were completed for the erection of a new reinforced concrete laboratory with adequate space for the existing apparatus and also for the new equipment on order. The new building has been sited in conjunction with the block casting and prestressing yards at North Point and with them provides a modern concrete precasting organization so necessary for the class of work undertaken by this sub- department.

ROADS OFFICE

Chief Engineer, R. H. Woodman, B.Sc. (Eng.) (Lond.).

133. Wherever practicable and in keeping with the depart- ment's overall policy, works are carried out by contract. Routine maintenance of road surfaces, kerbs, channels and footpaths and the reinstatement of trenches opened by public utility companies is carried out under a twelve-month contract, working on a priced schedule of rates. Where reconstruction is involved and generally wherever the value of the work warrants it, public tenders are called. The Quarries are operated by direct labour, which also is employed on the routine cleaning of road gutters, culverts, grass verges and the painting of traffic and parking signs. A direct labour force of nearly 1,200 skilled and unskilled male Chinese is employed.

134. The six years since the re-occupation has been a never ending struggle to reduce the backlog of work from years of neglect during the Japanese occupation period, and at the same time, to keep abreast of the increasing demands of road users. Heavy diesel public service vehicles carry some 200 million odd passengers annually, the number of road vehicles have increased threefold in the last ten years up to nearly 20,000, and heavy war department vehicles including 40-ton tanks take their toll. Double-decked buses have been introduced on the mainland. At the same time road users demand improved riding qualities of road surfaces.

General

132. This sub-department is charged with the maintenance of the Colony's 400 odd miles of roadway, roadbridges, the formation of new roads, the maintenance of the Kai Tak Airport, runways and hardstandings, and the operation of quarries to produce crushed granite aggregate and premixed bituminous products for the use of the department as a whole. Minor activities embraced by the above include the maintenance of street name plates, traffic signs, white road lines and pedestrain crossings for the Police Department, Traffic Branch, and the responsibility for street lighting and safety rails on kerb lines for the protection of pedestrians and school children.

Reconstruction Policy

135. With the adoption of the policy of reconstructing important thoroughfares in permanent materials where possible as opposed to patching existing surfaces carried on inadequate foundations, a comprehensive survey of road conditions was made and a long term reconstruction programme compiled. On bus routes and trunk roads where foundations are sound an 8" slab of vibrated plain concrete with a 1" thick wearing coat of " bituminous macadam is being used. On less important roads the 8′′ slab is reduced to 6". Where foundations are suspect, reconstruction consists in laying 9" "bottoming" of

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granite spalls with a 4" thickness of 11" tarmacadam plus a 1" wearing coat. Not only will this better quality construction reduce future maintenance, but the complete reconstruction affords opportunity to the public utility companies to inspect and repair or renew their respective services, thus reducing the necessity for road openings.

Reconstruction-City Roads

136. Good progress was made in the reconstruction of the trunk roads eastwards from the City of Victoria. The 1 miles from the junction of Queen's Road East and Hennessy Road to Causeway Bay via Queen's Road East, Gap Road, Morrison Hill Road, Leighton Road and Caroline Road was rebuilt to the top specification above. Odd sections of Queen's Road East could not be completed to the final improved line and width due to a number of old buildings, the leases of which had not expired and which remained protruding beyond the approved building line.

137. Sections of Chater and Murray Roads bordering on the Cricket Club were likewise reconstructed. Although these roads carry as heavy a traffic load as any in the Colony, it was decided, in the interests of speed and public convenience, that they should be completely closed to all traffic. Work was carried out by day and night and was completed in six weeks.

Other Reconstruction

138. A half mile stretch of the Castle Peak Road where it runs through the growing township of Tsun Wan was also rebuilt to the top specification of 8" of concrete, 1" wearing coat with paved footways and granite kerbs.

139. In the urban areas where there were sound roads with little heavy traffic, the running surface was improved by re-sheeting the existing surface with " bituminous macadam. A 1 mile stretch of the Shek O Road was so treated.

140. On the long lengths of road in the New Territories re- construction was resorted to only where the foundation had obviously broken up. Otherwise, existing consolidated road crusts were used as a foundation; the surface was patched with Bituminous macadam, reshaped where required; the carriage- way was widened to a uniform 22-ft. width by haunching the shoulders and the whole width then given an additional bitu- minous wearing carpet. All reshaping was carried out by the addition of new materials. Some 7 miles were so treated.

141. At the request of the Military Authorities the road from Wongneichong Gap to the Tytam Reservoir was completed in 6" of concrete.

New Roads

142. An important new traffic artery was made available to the public by the extension of Blue Pool Road through to Tai Hang Road. Again 8′′ of concrete with a 1" wearing coat was used. This new outlet is expected to reduce traffic on the lower part of Stubbs Road as it shortens the distance from Happy Valley (and the Race Course) to Repulse Bay Road by approximately mile. In addition two residential streets were built in the Blue Pool Road Development Area to encourage building development.

143. On virgin ground, particularly on new housing schemes, construction usually took the form of 4" of waterbound macadam with a 1" bituminous wearing coat. In some instance, a 3" hardcore foundation with 4" of tarmacadam and a 1" wearing coat was used. Work was continued on three such Housing Schemes at Jardine's Look-out on Tai Hang Road, the Worker's Flats site on King's Road and the Hong Kong Home Building Investment Company's lot in Kowloon.

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144. During the year, several of the military access roads were taken over for maintenance. These included Cape D'Aguilar Road, Little Sai Wan Road and Cape Collinson Road. The total mileage added in this way was approximately 61⁄2 miles. Surface repairs were carried out on the two last named; but major works are anticipated on most of them in the near future.

145. Work was commenced in building access roads to two areas where official squatter resettlement villages are to be built.

Miscellaneous

146. In addition to the foregoing and routine maintenance work some 140 odd works were carried out on behalf of private These were in the main the construction of pavements, footways and driveways on private property.

owners.

147. 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 many thousands of small patching jobs undertaken by the Maintenance Contractor or direct labour.

Areas in sq. yds.

Type of Surfacing

Island

Mainland

Total

8" cement concrete

25,201

35,183

60,384

6" cement concrete

31,143

75,498

106,641

21" granolithic

45,016

42,753

87,769

4" tarmacadam

20,038

35,934

55,972

3" tarmacadam

48,796

24,464

73,260

4" dry macadam

1,798

27,287

29,085

3" dry macadam

5,303

4,388

2" tartops

14,865

7,799

9,691 22,664

1" tartops

124,980

284,892

409,872

Tarpainting

1,084

Bottoming

22,050

2,405

1,084 24,455

Cement concrete channel in cu. ft.

47,919

87,525

135,444

148. At the airport, resheeting with a 1" thick coat of bitu- minous macadam was applied to the works road, the hard- standing in front of the HAEC hangar and a portion of the taxi track. Part of the existing hardstanding area was rebuilt with 6" of vibrated concrete plus a 1" bituminous carpet.

149. Bridge No. 35 on Pokfulum Road just outside the City Boundary was widened in reinforced concrete to remove a dan- gerous traffic bottleneck.

150. At Lo Wu on the frontier, where the fence crossing the river had been washed away, a narrow 3-span reinforced con- crete bridge some 84 feet long was built to carry jeep patrols and support the new frontier fence.

Reconstruction of Au Tau Bridge

151. Located near milestone 27 in the New Territories, the the original Au Tau Bridge was partly demolished during the Japanese invasion. Further damage by heavy post war traffic made reconstruction essential. The longest bridge in the Colony, the new structure of reinforced concrete has 11/25-ft. spans, an overall width of 36 feet and is simply supported on 18" x 18" R.C.C. piles. The piles were precast with 1:4 vibrated concrete of " maximum graded aggregate, rapid hardening cement and a water-cement ratio of 0.475. They were handled in 7 days and driven after 14 days with a 5-ton "Vulcan" single acting hammer to a penetration giving a bearing capacity of 65 tons per pile from the Hiley formula. Pile driv- ing was made difficult when rubble from the old demolished abutments was encountered. The carriageway consists of 4" of 14" bituminous macadam with a 1" thick wearing coat on a 10" deck slab carried by main deck beams 37" deep. The two 5-ft. wide footways are surfaced with 21" of granolithic concrete. The railings are of fine punched granite.

152. The northern approach road 1,200 feet long, founded on swampy ground, is constructed with a 9" foundation course of granite bottoming, 4′′ base course of 14′′ bituminous macadam and 1" carpet coat. The southern approach road 1,900 feet long on better ground is of 8" vibrated concrete with 13" thick wearing coat. The concrete of 1:6 mix, ordinary Portland cement, 11′′ max. graded granite aggregate and water cement ratio of 0.45 gave average compression test results of 5,000 and 7,000 lbs. per sq. in. in 7 and 28 days respectively.

The bridge and approaches were completed towards the end of the year.

Reconstruction of the Ma Niu Shui Bridge

153. This bridge carries the Tai Po Road across a narrow ravine some 11 miles from Kowloon.

The original bridge was of reinforced concrete beam and slab construction 90 feet long of 3 spans, 25 feet, 40 feet and 25 feet with a width of 18 feet, concrete piers and abut- ments and with deck level 45 feet above a mountain stream. The existing structure which is being replaced is of special interest as it actually consists of two bridges, one on top of the other. During the withdrawal of the British Forces in December 1941 demolition charges were fired. The bridge dropped and the main beams, still attached to the abutments, swung downwards resting on the collapsed piers, the broken deck forming a shallow V 12 feet deep and 90 feet across. During their occupation of the Colony the Japanese constructed a light bridge of seven spans on the remains of the original. Their piers were of rubble founded on the old piers and broken decking and carrying rails as beams to support timber decking which in turn carried a tarmacadam running surface at the original level. This rather crazy looking structure is still in use, subject to a 9-ton weight restriction, pending the completion of the new work which commenced in February 1952.

154. The old bridge had sharp approach curves at either end, one in a deep cutting, the other a heavy side cutting on a steep spur. It was decided that, while the bridge site could not be improved, a wider carriageway was necessary and the two approaches required realignment to give better curves and sight distances in keeping with modern highway design. Heavy earthworks were unavoidable and the disposal of the earth and rock presented a problem. Partly on account of this it was decided to build a large box culvert to carry the stream. The large quantity of spoil from the improved approaches could then be disposed over and above the culvert in safety. Another important aspect was that it was just possible to build a culvert of adequate size under the centre span of the existing bridge structure and work could proceed without interference to or from road traffic. As the centre line of the old bridge was on the best line, to have built a new bridge would have necessitated considerable demolition of the existing structure and half width construction of the new.

155. The culvert is 11 feet wide by 13 feet high inside and 125 ft. in length of which the upstream 29 ft. is curved in plan to a radius of 50 ft. Loading was selected in accordance with the Ministry of Transport recommendations for highway bridges. This required the thickness of the top and bottom slabs of the culvert to be 18" increased to 22" over a central length of 70 feet. The discharge is through a retaining wall 180 feet long and 30 feet high built on the down stream side to retain the earth filling. Culvert and wall are founded on rock. The carriageway over the culvert will be 22 feet wide as adopted for New Territories' roads with two 5-ft. footways. The road over the culvert will be constructed to a 500 feet radius, the approach bends having radii of 250 and 290 feet respectively. All curves will be transitioned, have extra widening and carry superelevation for an average speed of 35 m.p.h.

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Tenders were called and work commenced in February to enable the contractor to complete the foundation work during the dry season while the stream carried least water.

Quarries

156. To supply the department's requirements of aggregate for concrete and road building, the sub-department now operates two main plants at Hok Un and Tsat Tse Mui, quarrying and crushing close grained granite and producing bituminous macadam. A small quarry for neighbouring roadworks previ- ously operated at Hung Shui Kiu in the New Territories was closed down during the year. Until the Tsat Tse Mui plant came into full production in September, stone was quarried and crushed under contract at Morrison Hill where a third bitu- minous macadam plant was operated.

157. The Hok Un plant on the Mainland is a pre-war instal- lation rehabilitated. Production during the year reached 150 tons per 8-hour day. Shutes from the hoppers deliver stone to a bituminous macadam plant. This consists of two similar units, one unit producing 14", the other 3" bituminous macadam.

158. On the Island, Tsat Tse Mui is the site of the pre-war quarry where the plant was wholly destroyed during the war and has just been replaced. Crushing is by a 24" x 13"

× "Hadfield" and a 20′′ × 10" "Edgar Allen" jaw crusher feeding a 53' x 15" bucket elevator to a "Parker" screening plant mounted over steel hoppers of 260-ton capacity. Plus 2′′ rejects are returned to a "Parker" No. 2 Kubit Hammer mill and an 18" x 5" "Broadbent" granulator operating in closed circuit. The crushing capacity of the plant is 130 tons per 8-hour day. "bituminous macadam and 1" bituminous macadam is pro- duced by a "Parker" and a "Marsden" mixing plant each of cu. yd. capacity. The drying drum of the former is fed by a 48′ x 18" belt which takes stone from 4 electrically operated

grading feeders under the main hoppers. The "Marsden" unit is fed by shutes from the main storage hoppers. Bitumen is piped from a "Clarmac" 3,500-gallon electrically heated boiler and from two 1,000-gallon oil-fired boilers. The output of each mixing unit is 125 tons per 8-hour day. As was to be expected, the new installation at Tsat Tse Mui was not without its teething troubles. Unfortunately sited in a residential area, considerable nuisance was caused by dust, necessitating the construction by the Mechanical Workshops of a dust extraction plant. The crushing plant was completely housed-in and temporary blowers, ducts, and collecting channels installed, but this was not com- pletely successful in abating the nuisance.

159. With the increased demand for all sizes of crushed stone and bituminous macadam, it was necessary during the latter half of the year to work two 8-hour shifts at both quarries. This had the effect of increasing the annual production at Hok Un from 47,000 tons of stone to 60,000 tons.

160. The following table gives the output of quarry products over the three past years:

Quarry

Hok Un

Crushed Stone (tons)

Tarmac (tons)

1949/50 1950/51 1951/52 1949/50 1950/51 1951/52

2,375

6,670

2,229

29,506

40,510 46,776 60,203 25,928 32,233 22,885

24,935 29,887 11,626

419

10,537

Totals

42,885

53,446

91,938 51,282

62,120

45,048

Morrison Hill.

Hung Shui Kiu

Tsat Tse Mui.

Traffic Control

161. One phase of the activities of this sub-department which has increased year by year is the maintenance of traffic and street signs for the Police Department. During the year additional car parks, pedestrian crossings and traffic lines were marked out and traffic signs installed to police requirements. This work and the maintenance of existing lines called for the use of some 4,000 gallons of special paint.

Street Lighting

162. The rehabilitation and extension of public street lighting was further advanced during the year. New areas lighted were Wongneichong Road, Belchers Street, Harlech Road and Eastern Hospital Road. Difficulty in obtaining supplies of electric cable and fittings slowed the lighting programme. The numbers of lights in operation were as under:

1950/51

1951/52

Type

Island

Main- land

Total

Island

Main- land

Total

Gas Electricity

646 1,093

174 1,406

820 2,499

646 1,274

174 1,498

820

2,772

3,319

3,592

Other Works

163. In addition to roadworks, the excavation of terraces for additional burial grounds with footpaths and drainage works was carried out under the Maintenance Contract on behalf of the Urban Council.

164. Typhoon and rainstorm damage necessitated the stabilizing of 40 feet high cuttings on the Lam Tsun Valley Road, this being done by facing with 3′′ of lime cement concrete.

WATERWORKS OFFICE

Water Works Engineer,

Leonard Jackson, B.Eng., A.M.I.C.E., M.I.W.E. (Acting).

General

165. The demand for water continued to maintain its upward trend and this aspect governed the operation of the Waterworks during the whole of the year.

166. The heavy restrictions in the hours of supply brought further difficulties due to the whole day's supply having to be drawn off in a few hours. All too often this resulted in the upper floors of tenement buildings being unable to get any water so long as the taps were open on the lower floors.

167. In last year's report reference was made to the difficulty of supplying over 30 million gallons in only 10 hours daily, yet during part of this year the figures were 28 million gallons in 5 hours.

168. Considerable progress was made in the programme of improvements to the distribution system, although a great deal has yet to be done. Not only has new building work proceeded steadily with consequent calls for new mains, but the overcrowd- ing in many of the older districts has so increased the demand in these areas that the mains supplying them have been com- pletely overloaded.

169. An additional problem that has developed during the year has been the start of organized squatter resettlement with demands for water supplies to outlying areas.

170. There was an improvement in the staff position during the latter part of the year and it was possible to start on a full programme of major works.

Supply

171. Rainfall. Rainfall for the year as recorded at the Royal Observatory was 90.618 inches, being 6.358 inches more than the average. This compares with an average of 94.12 inches for the waterworks catchment areas.

The significant

factor was the comparatively early end to the rainy season, as only 13.63 inches were recorded after 19th August compared with a normal of 31.93 inches.

173. Consumption. The total amount of water supplied by the Waterworks was 11,675 million gallons to the urban area and 372 million gallons to the New Territories Villages. The daily average from the main works was therefore 31.98 million gallons per day, 1.52 million gallons per day less than last year. The total hours of supply, however, were 1,404 less than last year, a decrease of 28.6%.

174. The hours of supply and average daily consumption throughout the year were as follows:

Month

Hours of supply per day 1951/52

Days

Average daily consumption in M. G.

1951

April

May

172. Storage. Details of storage in the impounding reser- voirs are as follows:

June

July

10 hrs supply 6.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. 5.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. 10 hrs supply 6.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. 143 hrs supply 6.30 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. do

(1st-30th) (1st-16th) (17th-31st) 15

29.82

34.61

(1st-30th) 30

38.05

(1st-22nd) 22

11 hrs supply 6.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. 4.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.

(23rd-31st) 9

39.83

Storage in

Date

Million

Remarks.

Gallons.

August September October

―

(1st-31st) 31

38.30

—

(1st-30th) 30

37.87

(1st-11th) 11

1st April, 1951

2,483

Low.

9 hrs supply 7.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. 4.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

November

―

31st March, 1952

1,992

Minimum for year.

5 hrs supply

11th & 13th to 15th June, 1951 19th & 20th August, 1951

5,970.80

Maximum-all reservoir full

for 6 days.

do 6.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.

December

Full Supply 5 hrs supply

(12th-31st) (1st-15th)

(16th-30th) 15

(1st-24th) 24 (25th-26th) 2

35.26

28.24

26.10

on 138 days between 15th May and 29th September.

One or more reservoirs over-

flowing to waste

1952

January

Full Supply 5 hrs supply

6.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.

6.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.

1st April, 1952

1,969

About the minimum required to carry through to the rainy season.

Full Supply

5 hrs supply

6.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.

February March

It will be noted that the latest date on which all reservoirs were full was 20th August which compared with 6th October in the previous year.

Full Supply

(27th-31st) 5 (1st)

(2nd-25th) 24 (26th-27th)

(28th-31st) 4 (1st-29th) 29 (1st & from

3rd-31st) 30 (2nd)

25.36

23.83

25.21

For the year

Average 9.5 hours

31.98

175. Apart from six special days, e.g. Chinese New Year, when it is considered desirable, a full supply was not possible at any time of the year. In fact the average hours supply per day throughout the year were 9.5 as compared with 13.5 last year and 15.5 in 1949/50.

176. Restriction. Previous reports have given the dis- tribution of water as between Island and Mainland, but owing to the difficulties of operation on a five hours supply, it was found necessary to open a bye-pass from the cross harbour main to city distribution, which being unmetered caused fictitious figures to be recorded for the cross harbour main supply. The correct amount of water used on the Island could not, therefore, be calculated.

177. With the early end of the rainy season it was evident that a very dry winter was in store and that if a repetition of the 1929 shortage were to be avoided, early enforcement of very heavy restrictions was necessary. The supply was, therefore, cut to 9 hours on October 12th and on November 16th it was still further reduced to only 5 hours per day. The winter yield was substantially as estimated and, with restrictions remaining unchanged to the end of the year, the reduction in storage took place at the rate anticipated.

178. Restriction to 5 hours caused many difficulties in dis- tribution and for the first week many people were without water. By opening some of the control valves in advance of the official time, and leaving difficult supply areas on for an extra hour when necessary, most of the difficulties were, however, overcome.

179. Particularly difficult areas on the Island were the North Point and Shaukiwan districts and the Central and Western low level areas. Some improvements were, however, possible and the benefit from the replacement of the feeder in King's Road between Happy Valley and the North Point Service Reservoir

in 1950 was further increased during the year by the duplication of the section from Eastern Reservoir to the bottom of Happy Valley. Completion of the enlargement of the main eastward from North Point tank gave some relief to Shaukiwan.

180. Improvements in the Western District comprised enlargement of the outlets from Elliot and West Point Service Reservoirs and the installation of cross connexions between the Albany-Elliot trunk main and the distribution system.

181. The supply to the Wanchai area was improved by the laying of a 15′′ main in Queen's Road East a portion of which involved replacing an existing 10" main. This work was co- ordinated with the reconstruction of the road by the Roads Office.

182. On the Mainland the most difficult supply area was Sham Shui Po. To improve the supply to this area repairs to the Kowloon Balance Tank referred to below were put in hand. Other works included a bye-pass from the Shek Lai Pui trunk mains and the renewal of several sub-mains in the area. In- vestigations as a result of complaints from consumers showed many back lane pipes to be too small and overloaded. Extensive renewals were undertaken.

183. Filtration. Filters were working to capacity during the summer, but the supply was still inadequate. It was, there- fore, decided to increase filtration capacity in order to utilize flood water, and schemes for additional filters at Kowloon and Tytam were included in the major works programme.

184. Automatic chlorine dosing plant was installed in three more of the New Territories village supplies at Taipo, Tsun Wan and Hok Tau.

185. An experiment in the recovery of wash water was made at Eastern Filters using one of the disused slow sand filter beds to settle out the sludge from the discarded wash water

from the Rapid Gravity filters and it was found possible to pass

| this water through the existing slow sand filters. This represents a considerable saving, as approximately 2% of the total output is required for sand washing, i.e. 200,000 gallons per day at maximum output.

186. Water Analysis. The purity of the supply was main- tained at a high standard, with the exception of a period in May-June when the Peak mains became contaminated. The contamination, which was never satisfactorily tracked down, affected many of the mains in the Mount Kellett and Mount Gough areas, and was only eliminated after working systema- tically through the whole system. It is considered most probable that the contamination entered the system through the leaking roof of Mount Cough Service Reservoir which has since been thoroughly cleaned and repaired. Apart from this local con- tamination the reports were normal.

187. Of the samples taken at service reservoirs, two showed B. Coli in 10 c.c. or less. One was on the Peak during the period referred to above, and the other was shown to be due to a dirty sampling tap. Only three other samples were below the standard of B. Coli absent in 100 c.c., two showing present in 100 c.c. and one present in 50 c.c. The overall percentage was 98% of samples showing absence in 100 c.c.

188. Tap samples were 94% free of B.Coli in 100 c.c. and 23% of the bad samples were taken during the Peak epidemic. Chemical and physical analysis continued to be 100% satis- factory. Sampling and testing were carried out by the Govern- ment Pathologist and Chemist respectively.

189. Pumping. Water pumped during the year amounted to 2,091 million gallons of raw water and 1,882 million gallons of filtered water. This showed a considerable saving over the previous year as, although overall consumption was down by 4.5%, pumping was down by 27%, being attributed to more

effective distribution of available resources. During the year the change over from steam to diesel or electric drive con- tinued.

190. Waste Detection. Due to lack of staff and restricted hours of supply from October onwards, Waste Detection was limited almost entirely to dealing with visible leaks, removal of defective and unauthorized fittings together with bringing plans up to date.

191. One waste detection area on the Island was tested but the test and subsequent detailed examination for defects took from March to July and as a result of the seasonal increase in consumption no reduction in minimum night flow was recorded.

192. During the period October to January work on the Island was concentrated on the Peak district which was suspect for leaks due to the fact that following the reduction of hours of supply, reduction of consumption was much less than that for the Colony as a whole.

193. Metered Services. A total of 2,219 additional metered services were installed during the year, bringing the total to 35,256, of which 19,261 were on the Island and 15,995 on the Mainland.

Repairs and Maintenance Work

194. During the year a new Workshop was in the course of erection at Bullock Lane, but the existing workshops had to remain in operation during the change over with no diminution in the number of orders. By the end of the year, however, all the machinery was established in the new workshop, and work was proceeding under much more satisfactory conditions.

195. A total of 963 orders was dealt with during the year, of which 895 were for waterworks jobs.

196. In the meter repair workshops 23,941 meters were overhauled and tested and a further 8,765 meters were repaired on site, making a total of 32,706 repairs. This represents 93% of the total meters installed, which means that on the average meters are being overhauled about once a year.

197. As the office was without the services of either a Mechanical Engineer or Assistant Mechanical Engineer for most of the year, the maintenance of Diesel Engines was contracted out to the Taikoo Dockyard with satisfactory results.

Renewals and Improvements

198. Red Hill Filters. These filters, referred to in para- grap 215 of last year's report, were completed and put into service. With a designed capacity of 600,000 gallons per day and provision for extension to 900,000 gallons the Stanley peninsula is now assured of an adequate supply. These filters provide for the first time in Hong Kong, for correction of pH value by the addition of lime after filtration. The total cost was $319,175.

199. Bowen Road Service Reservoir. The site of the new service reservoir formerly contained filters and two small service reservoirs. The filters were removed last year and incorporated in the new Eastern Filters, leaving two small service reservoirs at different levels with a combined storage of only 1.12 million gallons. The head of water from the upper to the lower reser- voir is used to drive hydraulically driven pumps discharging in to Magazine Gap tank.

200. The present scheme provides for a 5 million gallons service reservoir at a level roughly midway between the present reservoirs, to be supplied with water from Bowen Road. The head of water from Bowen Road will be sufficient to drive the hydraulic pumps when transferred to a new pump house at a level just above that of the new reservoir.

201. A contract for $1,325,497.14 was signed on 12th August and work commenced immediately. Considerable excavation was necessary to accommodate such a large reservoir on the site, and despite numerous trial bores before work com- menced the excavation has revealed far more rock than was anticipated, mostly situated underneath the old filters and reservoir where bores were not possible. By the end of the year excavation was about one third complete, and concreting of side walls had commenced. The excavated material was tipped in to the adjacent valleys.

202. Tytam Tuk Pumping Station. Two diesel and one electric driven pump, each capable of 3 million gallons per day against a head of 400 ft., were ordered in 1948 to replace the existing three steam units. These three new units were received during the year but their late delivery made it necessary to postpone the installation of the diesel units until early summer of next year when pumping will be at a minimum. The electric driven pump was, however, in service by the end of March without disturbing the steam pumps, and one steam pump was dismantled and the foundation concreted for the first of the diesels. All castings for the new suction and delivery mains were ordered and a length of new suction laid.

203. The dismantled steam unit was sold by tender as it stood for $64,950, the purchaser being responsible for taking down and removing it.

204. Pokfulam Road Pumping Station. Installation of the new diesel pumps referred to in paragraph 218 of last year's report was continued. It was found that the pump of the high lift set for the Peak supply had been damaged in transit, one of the cast iron feet of the pump casing being fractured. After correspondence with the suppliers repairs were effected locally. One diesel having been installed last year and put into operation it was possible to dismantle one of the existing steam units.

This unit was sold as it stood for $16,500, the purchaser being responsible for dismantling and removing it. The two diesel driven pumps supplying the 750 ft. tank and the Peak tank were then set up over the foundation of the steam pump and put into service. The unit serving the 750 ft. tank proved quite satis- factory but after 40 hours in service the casing for the Peak Pump fractured. Investigation showed that the fracture was probably due to the earlier damage. A new casing was ordered and in the meantime the Peak tank is being supplied by the remaining two steam units in the station which, until a fourth unit which is to be electrically driven can be delivered, are to be maintained as standby plant.

205. Peak Pumping Mains. Work on these mains, referred to in paragraph 219 of last year's report, was satisfactorily concluded. The pipes were all steel tubes of 8 ins. internal diameter protected internally and externally with bitumen and connected with victaulic joints. The main to the 750 ft. tank comprised 2,600 ft. of Class C pipes. The main to the Peak tank was divided into three pressure sections, each 1,750 ft. long, pipes for the top section being of 6 w.g. metal and tested to 1,500 ft. head, the next lower section " thick for 2,000 ft. head, and the lowest section " thick to withstand a test pressure of 2,400 ft. head, i.e. 1,038 lbs. per sq. inch.

206. Standby Pumps. The diesel engined unit for Albany Pumping Station, referred to in para. 220 of last year's report, has still not arrived.

207. Mainlaying. An extensive programme of mainlaying was carried out during the year to improve the supply in con- gested areas, and to extend the supply to new building develop- ments. The more important mains are referred to in other paragraphs.

208. During the year it was found possible to complete the programme of replacing the unsatisfactory black iron mains which were laid in the Peak district of the Island immediately

following the reoccupation of the Colony. Many of the original mains had been removed during the Japanese occupation and in 1946 Galvanized Iron piping was not available. These mains. had already badly deteriorated and some leakage was occurring and frequent flushing was necessary to minimize complaints of rusty water.

209. By the end of the year practically all existing stocks of pipes had been used but large orders were placed in the United Kingdom for further supplies. The total amount of piping laid during the year was 180,202 ft.

210. Shing Mun Conduit. This work comprised the laying of approximately 2,000 ft. of 36" dia. welded joint steel main along the bottom of the Shing Mun gorge to replace an open conduit which was leaking and beyond repair. Work had been started in 1950, and was completed early in the year. The new pipe line was put into service on 12th May. The total cost of this work was $404,846 which included $232,440 for the pur- chase of pipes, $139,322 for transport and laying charges, and $10,759 for jointing.

211. Bullock Lane Workshop and Depôt. The pre-war workshop in Lockhart Road was destroyed during the war. Since the reoccupation all workshop work has been done in a corrugated iron building at Bullock Lane adjacent to the water- works main depôt on the Island. This building, besides being in a very poor state of repair, could not be adapted to provide an economic layout for new workshop equipment. Plans were therefore prepared for a new workshop and a Contract let for $460,886. Work was completed by the end of the year and all worthwhile equipment from the old workshop was transferred and installed departmentally. This new workshop is the final stage in the reconstruction which commenced with the new Meter Repairs and Blacksmith's shops constructed in 1948. The buildings have been arranged around a central yard which con- tains an unloading bay, inflammable goods store and open

- 55

storage space.

The main shop is along the north side and has a floor area of approximately 8,300 ft. divided into three bays. The central bay 31 ft. wide and 25 ft. high with a sky light roof, accommodates the heavy duty machines, all of which are pro- vided with independent electric drives, and has a 10 ton travel- ling crane. In the south bay 17 ft. wide but only 16 ft. high are set up the older and light duty machines which are driven from an overhead line shaft. while the north section of similar dimensions accommodates the fitters work benches, and pattern making section. The offices are situated over the pattern shop, commanding a view of the greater part of the workshop.

The east wing comprises single storey outbuildings, housing heat treatment and welding rooms and open bays for the testing of castings, and garages. The meter repair shop forms the west wing and the Blacksmith's shop is in the south side of the com- pound. The centre of the compound has been paved and serves as a much needed stockyard.

212. The opportunity was taken during this reconstruction to replan the whole depôt. A two storey store building at the south end of the yard was completely reconstructed and fitted out as a central store, and watchmen's and resident foremen's quarters were also reconstructed.

213. Salt Water Fire Fighting Scheme. During the hours of restricted supply when the water mains are empty there is no water immediately available to combat fires. To remedy this in the congested districts where fire risks are great and also to conserve fresh water, a supplementary salt water scheme was requested by the Chief Officer, Fire Brigade. It was arranged that the low and practically level areas in Kowloon and Hong Kong should be served from static storage tanks to be fed by Fire Brigade fire engines pumping in relays if necessary. For the higher levels of Hong Kong, Braithwaite tanks of 30,000 gallons were to be erected at the higher levels and pumps erected on the sea front to supply the tanks through a network of special mains, provided with fire hydrants.

214. For the low level areas in addition to those erected in 1950, three static tanks were erected in Kowloon and three in Hong Kong, making a total of 57 in Kowloon and 20 in Hong Kong.

215. The four Braithwaite tanks ordered were delivered and erected. The cast iron and cement asbestos piping had started coming forward towards the end of the year and laying of the mains was commenced in March.

216. The diesel engines for three pumps were received and work was commenced on building two of the Pump Houses. Delivery of the pumps, however, is still awaited.

217. Tytam Shaukiwan Supply. Various requests have been made in the past for a water supply to the eastern outlying areas of the Island including Shek-O, the R.A.F. Station at Sai Wan and recently to a squatter resettlement camp at Sai Wan. A comprehensive scheme was put forward to cover the above requests and also to provide increased filtration capacity. This scheme which will eventually handle 3 million gallons per day is to be provided in stages. The first, comprising a supply of unfiltered water for the R.A.F. Station and the squatter camp at Sai Wan was put in hand immediately, and the provision of a service reservoir and a 2 million gallons per day filter station which will provide filtered water and replace and augment the obsolete slow sand filters at Chai Wan has been included in the major works programme. By the end of March approximately 7,000 ft. of a 10" dia. main had been laid from Tytam Tuk Pumping Station to a new 10,000 gallons balance tank at Tytam Gap and the laying of a 3" dia. main to serve the R.A.F. Station and of a 4" dia. main to the squatter camp was also completed.

218. Kowloon Rapid Gravity Filters. The present water supply from the Mainland Reservoirs is limited by the filtration capacity. During the summer months the reservoirs are over- flowing and the demand for water, which is then at its highest,

—

exceeds this filtration capacity. To improve on the present slow sand filters and provide a further 3.5 million gallons per day filtration it is planned to instal a 7 million gallons per day rapid gravity filter station on a site adjacent to the existing slow sand filters and so situated that it can take surplus water from either Shing Mun or Kowloon Reservoirs. An indent for the filtration plant was prepared and forwarded.

219. Kowloon Tong Balance Tank. Consequent on the industrial development that has taken place post-war in the Shamshuipo district, complaints from this district of poor pressure had become very numerous and serious. In order to improve the supply it was decided to repair and put back into service the Kowloon Tong Balance Tank which, due to a bad leak, had not been in use since 1938. The repair work involved the construction of an inner reinforced concrete wall 6 ins. thick about 10 ft. inside the existing walls, backed with consolidated earth filling. An asphalt membrane was inserted between the concrete and the fill, and over the existing floor. Work was started in late November and was practically completed by the end of the year.

220. Deep Well Boring. Reports on the geological strata of the New Territories indicate that in certain localities water may be available at a depth of approximately 1,000 ft. In order to provide a better water supply to certain areas in the New Territories it was decided to undertake test bores to ascertain what quantities of water may be derived from such sources. Inquiries were made in the United Kingdom for the necessary equipment and indents forwarded in June for the drilling rig and steel casing required. Only a few small items had been delivered before the end of the year.

221. Tai Lam Chung Valley Scheme. By far the most important extension of the Waterworks commenced during the year was the Tai Lam Chung Valley Scheme. This is a new

· 58

___

storage reservoir scheme complete with ancillary works. In- vestigations which began some years before the war were continued with a view to providing an additional storage reservoir of about 7,000 million gallons capacity in the Tai Lam Chung Valley, which is situated 16 miles from Kowloon along the Castle Peak Road. Consulting Engineers had reported on the scheme in December 1940, but owing to difficulties in decid- ing on the best site for the dam, a decision was not possible before the war. The site of the dam was not settled until 1948. By this time the cost of the scheme, estimated at $21,600,000 before the war, was now estimated at about $100,000,000 and financial difficulties held up progress.

222. With the ever increasing demand for water, however, it became imperative to obtain further supplies, and seeking a way cut of the impasse a proposal for development by stages was put forward. The suggestion was accepted and the Consulting Engineers asked to report again. Mr. H. J. Gourley, M.I.C.E., of Messrs. Binnie, Deacon & Gourley of Westminster, thereupon visited the Colony and as his report, dated 31st July, endorsed the suggestion, his firm were instructed to proceed immediately with detailed designs.

223. The scheme comprises a mass concrete dam 130 ft. high built thick enough to allow of subsequent raising to 180 ft. By keeping the top water level down 50 ft. below the ultimate level, the construction of four low subsidiary dams has been deferred. The storage capacity at this stage will be 1,150 million gallons, and the supply aqueduct is being designed to discharge 10 million gallons per day, except for the tunnels which are designed for the ultimate maximum draw off of 40 million gallons per day. The top water level being only 150 ft. above sea level a gravity supply to Kowloon and Hong Kong is not possible. A pumping station at Tsun Wan about 7 miles from Kowloon, will boost the delivery up to filters and up to a service reservoir situated high enough to give a gravity supply to the urban areas. Pumps and filters are to be installed for 10 million gallons per day.

224. Design work was commenced as soon as the order to start work was given, and by the end of the year was nearing completion. In order to save working time, certain preliminary works were put in hand departmentally and extensive survey work continued.

225. The formation of access roads and sites for coolie lines was commenced and plans prepared for coolie lines and Engineer's quarters. The design of a landing jetty was under- taken by the Port Works Office; anti-malarial work was com- menced by the Medical Department and forestry work by the Forestry Department.

Miscellaneous Work

226. Central Reclamation Scheme. Further borings were carried out in connexion with this scheme. A realignment of the cross harbour main to avoid the new site for the ferry pier was also approved and the preparation of an indent for the necessary pipes was almost completed at the end of the year.

227. Boring Work. In addition to the Central Reclamation Scheme, the boring gangs were fully occupied during the year on site investigations for the Tai Lam Chung Scheme; the realignment of Kennedy Road for the Chief Engineer, Roads Office; and the foundations of the new Central Police Head- quarters for the Chief Architect.

228. Prestressed Concrete. Included in the five year pro- gramme of major works are a number of new service reservoirs which require approximately 230,000 sq. ft. of roofing which it is possible to standardize. In view of this, consideration was given to the use of prestressed concrete beams and slabs for the roofing. Allowing for the purchase of the equipment, its setting up, and the required prestressing wire it is considered that this type of construction should show a considerable saving in cost over ordinary reinforced concrete on the whole programme of

service reservoir construction alone. Indents were accordingly prepared for the supply of suitable prestressing equipment and high tensile wire.

229. Attendants Quarters. Attendants quarters were pro- vided at the Tsun Wan and Taipo filters as with the installation of chloronomes it is necessary to have resident attendants.

230. Hospital Supplies. Standby water supply schemes were installed at Queen Mary, Kowloon and Lai Chi Kok Hospitals, comprising additional storage tanks and pumps.

231. Ta Ku Ling Police Station. A water supply to this station involved the laying of 12,687 ft. of 2 ins. dia. pipe to connect it to the Hok Tau main.

232. Supply to Military Camps in New Territories. cooperation with the Royal Engineers a supply of filtered water was provided from the Tai Lam Chung Valley. 5,000 ft. of 10 ins. dia. suction main were laid and a filter station of 300,000 gallons per day capacity was erected using pressure filters which were previously in use in the Stanley supply but were no longer required there.

233. Preliminary Investigations. Investigations were car- ried out during the year for supplies to the Hay Ling Island Leprosarium, Cheung Chau Island, Cha Kwo Ling, Silver Mine Bay, Sha Tau Kok and Sai Kung.

234. Revenue and Expenditure. To collect Revenue, charge- able water accounts were sent out quarterly and supplementary and miscellaneous accounts were rendered as due. Approxi- mately 135,000 water accounts were dealt with during the year, compared with 130,000 in 1950/51. 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 gallons for trade and domestic purposes, and $2 per unit for shipping and construction purposes.

EXPENDITURË

235. The total expenditure during the year amounted to some $47,348,000 as compared with $46,848,000 in 1950/51. Approximately $22,000,000 was spent on major public works. and $15,000,000 on recurrent maintenance works. Salaries and other administrative costs accounted for some $7,400,000 while $2,000,000 represented Rehabilitation Loan expenditure. The following comparative statement shows the expenditure on Public Works during the four years 1948/49 to 1951/52.

Year

Personal Emoluments & other Charges $

Non Recurrent

Recurrent

Rehabili- tation Loan

Miscel- laneous

Total

1948-49

1949-50

1950-51

1951-52

3,644,000 2,605,000 9,748,000

3,932,000 17,626,000 12,975,000

4,051,000 19,369,000 14,473,000

7,401,000 21,430,000 14,937,000

20,643,000

15,500,000

8,578,000

1,966,000

173,000

960,000

377,000

1,614,000

36,813,000

50,993,000

46,848,000

47,348,000

APPRECIATION

236. It gives the writer great pleasure to record his appreciation of the loyalty and hard work performed by the staff of all sections of the Department.

THEODORE L. BOWRING, O.B.E., M.I.C.E., M.I.Struct.E., Director of Public Works.

29th July, 1952.