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1.
HONG KONG
ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORT
BY THE
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR 1960 - 61
PRINTED and Published by S. Young, Government PRINTER AT THE GOVERNMENT PRESS, JAVA ROAD, HONG KONG
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EXCHANGE RATES
When dollars are quoted in this Report, they are, unless otherwise stated, Hong Kong dollars. The official rate for conversion to pound sterling is HK$16 £1 (HK$1=1s. 3d.). The official rate for conversion to U.S. dollars is HK$5.714=US$1 (based on £1=US$2.80).
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(
GENERAL
Staff
CONTENTS
Paragraphs
1 - 2
3 9
Training
10 13
Visitors during the Year
14 22
ARCHITECTUral Office
General
Educational Buildings
Medical Buildings
23
25
29
30 37
M
J
24
Urban Services and Public Buildings
38
48
New Territories Administration
49
51
Police
52
-
58
Fire Brigade
59 - 60
Prisons Department Buildings
Resettlement Buildings
Social Welfare Buildings
61 66
67 - 76
77 - 80
Post Offices .
-
81 83
General Buildings
Maintenance Section
Works carried out by Private Architects
BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE
•
CROWN LANDS AND Survey Office
General
Crown Lands Division.
Planning Division .
Survey Division
131
84 89
90
93
94 - 97
98 - 115
116 - 118
•
119 - 135
*
136 - 152
153 - 172
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DEVELOPMEnt Office
General
Planning and Investigations
Formation Works
Surveys
Work Undertaken by Consultants
DRAINAGE Office
General
Sewers and Stormwater Drains
Resettlement (Domestic & Industrial) and Housing
Development
+
Nullah Decking and Reconstruction
Disposal Works, Intercepting Sewers and Screening
Plant
Private Works
ELECTRICAL And Mechanical Office
General
Transport and Vehicle Sections
Mechanical Workshops Section
Mechanical Plant Section
Steam Section
Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Section
Electrical Section
PORT WORKs Office
General
Reclamations and Seawalls
Piers
Maintenance and Dredging
Minor Works
Site Investigation and Survey Material Testing Laboratory
iv
Paragraphs
173 - 174
175 180
181
186
187
188
-
189
190 - 191
192 193
-
J
•
194 195
-
196 199
•
200
•
201 - 202
203 208
209
211
-
212 214
210
215 - 219
220
224
225
226
227
-
233
234 235
·
-
236 - 238
239
240 - 241
242 - 245
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Roads OffICE
Paragraphs
WORKS SECTION
General
City Roads, Victoria
Island Road, Outside City Limits
Kowloon Roads
New Territories Roads .
246 - 251
252 - 257
·
258 259
•
260 263
264 - 266
Bridges
267 - 270
Quarries
271 - 276
Work undertaken by Consultants .
277
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING SECTION
General
Traffic Aids
•
Street Lighting
Public Transport
Investigations
Planning
Design
WATERWORKS OFFICE
General
Maintenance and Distribution
Supply
New Construction
EXPENDITURE
REVENUE
STAFF WELFARE
APPRECIATION
V
278
279
284
286
288
J
-
V
-
292
295
-
283
285
287
291
294
298
299
*
300
-
301
302
-
331
332
363
364
365
366
367 - 373
374
-
376
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GENERAL
THIS report covers the activities of the Public Works Department for the financial year ending 31st March, 1961.
2. Nine sub-department under the direction of the Headquarters staff carried out the operations of the Department.
3.
Director
Deputy Director (Engineering)
"?
39
(Buildings &
Lands)
Assistant Director (Engineering)
(Development)
Assistant Chief Engineer (Acting)
Secretary
Chief Accountant
STAFF
HEADQUARTERS
Hon. A. INGLIS, A.M.I.C.E.
Mr. H. W. Forsyth, B.E., A.M.N.Z.
Inst.E., M.I.C.E.
Mr. A. M. J. WRIGHT, A.R.I.B.A.,
F.R.I.C.S.
Mr. W. A. Johnson, M.I.Mun.E.,
F.R.I.C.S.
Mr. J. J. ROBSON, M.I.C.E., A.M.I.Struct.E. Mr. D. J. FITZGIBBON, B.Sc., M.I.C.E.,
F. P-Way Inst.
Mr. A. K. Suffiad, M.B.E.
Mr. T. P. Styles.
Architectural Office:
Assistant Director Chief Architect
"
Chief Structural Engineer
Chief Quantity Surveyor Assistant Chief Architect
**
"
•
**
"
**
"
SUB-DEPARTMENTS
Mr. G. P. NORTON, A.R.I.B.A.
Mr. J. C. CHArter, A.A.Dip., A.R.I.B.A. Mr. J. T. MALLORIE, Dip.Arch. (L'pool),
A.R.I.B.A., A.M.T.P.I.
Mr. A. E. Claassen, M.I.Struct.E..
A.M.(S.A.)I.C.E.
Mr. A. F. Evans, A.R.I.C.S. Mr. H. Ross, Dip.Arch. (Glas.),
A.R.I.B.A.
Mr. W. E. LEVIE, Dip.Arch. (Edin.),
A.R.I.B.A.
Mr. Wong Ting-tsai, B.Sc., A.I.A.A.,
A.R.I.B.A.
Mr. C. R. J. Donnithorne, A.R.I.B.A. Mr. H. W. Grace, A.R.I.B.A.
1
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Buildings Ordinance Office:
Assistant Director Chief Building Surveyor
Assistant Chief Building Surveyor
"3
**
**
Senior Structural Engineer
"
""
Crown Lands & Survey Office:
Superintendent of Crown Lands
and Survey
Assistant Superintendent of
Crown Lands Assistant Superintendent of
Crown Lands (Planning)
Assistant Superintendent of
Survey
Senior Estate Surveyor Senior Land Surveyor Senior Estate Surveyor
Development Office: Chief Engineer
Assistant Chief Engineer
Drainage Office:
Chief Engineer (Acting)
Assistant Chief Engineer
(Acting)
Electrical & Mechanical Office:
Chief Electrical & Mechanical
Engineer
Assistant Chief Mechanical
Engineer
Port Works Office:
Chief Engineer
Assistant Chief Engineer
Mr. R. FAIRbairn, F.R.I.C.S., M.R.S.H. Mr. P. V. SHAWE, F.R.I.C.S., M.R.S.H. Mr. G. THOMSON, A.R.I.B.A. Mr. E. H. Rowley, A.R.I.C.S. Mr. R. A. C. BROWN, A.R.I.C.S.,
A.A.L.P.A.
Mr. R. A. Watters, A.R.I.C.S. Mr. G. L. Lowman, A.R.I.C.S. Mr. J. G. STEAN, A.R.I.C.S. Mr. Au Sik-ling, B.Sc., A.M.I.Struct.E.
Mr. C. S. BARRON, M.B.E., A.R.I.C.S.
Mr. R. H. Hughes, M.A. (Cantab.),
F.R.I.C.S.
Mr. R. C. CLARKE, B.Eng. (Min.), LL.B.
(Lond.), D.P.A. (Lond.), A.M.I.Min.E.. A.R.I.C.S.
Mr. A. R. GILES, A.R.I.C.S., F.V.I.,
F.R.G.S.
Mr. I. L. STANTON, A.R.I.C.S.
Mr. T. SEACH, A.R.I.C.S.
Mr. D. L. T. Musson, A.A.I.
Mr. A. S. WEBB, A.M.I.C.E..
A.M.L.Struct.E.
Mr. F. R. Whitehead, B.Sc., A.M.I.C.E.
Mr. T. K. Hum, M.Eng. (McGill),
A.M.I.C.E., M.E.I.C.
Mr. F. E. SHORT, A.M.I.C.E.
Mr. D. W. Walker, B.Sc., A.M.I.E.E.,
M.I.Mech.E.
J
Mr. K. B. Baker, A.M.I.Mech.E.
Mr. F. A. Fisher, B.Sc., LL.B. (Lond.),
A.M.I.C.E.
Mr. H. D. Stead, M.Sc., D.I.C..
A.M.I.C.E.
2
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Roads Office:
Chief Engineer
"
(Acting)
Assistant Chief Engineer
•
"
**
91
"
(Acting)
Mr. J. R. Whitaker, M.A. (Cantab.),
A.M.I.Mun.E., A.M.I.C.E.
Mr. W. T. Knight, A.M.I.C.E.,
A.M.I.Mun.E., M.Inst.Q.
Mr. B. W. James, B.Sc., A.m.i.C.e. Mr. W. C. Bell, A.M.I.C.E. Mr. A. T. Armstrong-Wright,
A.M.I.C.E.
Waterworks Office:
Deputy Director (Waterworks
Engineer)
Assistant Director
Chief Engineer
Assistant Chief Engineer
(Acting)
Mr. T. O. Morgan, B.Sc., A.M.I.C.E.
Mr. E. P. Wilmot-Morgan, B.Sc.,
M.I.C.E., A.M.I.W.E.
Mr. C. I. Wilks, A.M.I.C.E., M.I.W.E. Mr. A. W. P. Cox, A.M.I.C.E..
A.M.I.Mun.E.,
Mr. A. S. ROBERTSON, B.Sc., A.M.I.C.E.,
A.M.I.Struct.E., A.M.I.W.E.
Mr. W. D. A. Tucker, M.A. (Oxon.),
A.M.I.C.E.
4. The following senior officers went on or returned from long leave:
Hon. A. INGLIS, Director of Public Works
Mr. A. M. J. WRIGHT, Deputy Director (Buildings & Lands)
Mr. J. J. ROBSON, Assistant Director (Development)
Mr. E. P. WIlmot-Morgan, Assistant Director (Waterworks)
Mr. R. Fairbairn, Assistant Director (Buildings Ordinance Office) Mr. C. I. WILKS, Chief Engineer
Mr. J. ALEXANDER, Chief Engineer
Mr. A. S. WEBB, Chief Engineer
Mr. J. T. Mallorie, Chief Architect
Mr. A. E. Claassen, Chief Structural Engineer
Mr. A. F. EVANS, Chief Quantity Surveyor
Mr. P. V. SHAWE, Chief Building Surveyor
Mr. A. R. GILES, Assistant Superintendent of Survey
Mr. D. W. Walker, Chief Electrical & Mechanical Engineer
Mr. B. W. James, Assistant Chief Engineer
Mr. W. T. KNIGHT, Assistant Chief Engineer
Mr. H. Ross, Assistant Chief Architect
Mr. W. E. LEVIE, Assistant Chief Architect
Mr. H. W. Grace, Assistant Chief Architect
Mr. R. A. C. Brown, Assistant Chief Building Surveyor
Mr. D. L. T. Musson, Senior Estate Surveyor
Mr. T. Seach, Senior Land Surveyor
Mr. I. L. STANTON, Senior Estate Surveyor
Mr. K. B. Baker, Assistant Chief Mechanical Engineer
Mr. E. L. STRANGE, M.B.E., Secretary-prior to retirement
3
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5. The following officers carried out acting duties in senior posts as indicated:
Mr. H. W. FORSYTH as Director
Mr. W. A. JOHNSON as Deputy Director (Engineering)
Mr. G. P. NORTON as Deputy Director (Buildings & Lands) Mr. F. A. FISHER as Assistant Director (Waterworks) Mr. J. ALEXANDER as Assistant Director (Engineering)
Mr. A. S. WEBB as Assistant Director (Engineering)
Mr. J. C. CHARTER as Assistant Director (Architectural Office)
Mr. P. V. SHAWɛ as Assistant Director (Buildings Ordinance Office) Mr. H. D. STEAD as Chief Engineer
Mr. W. T. KNIGHT as Chief Engineer Mr. T. K. HUM as Chief Engineer
Mr. A. S. Robertson as Chief Engineer
Mr. W. C. BELL as Chief Engineer
Mr. F. R. Whitehead as Chief Engineer Mr. H. Ross as Chief Architect
Mr. W. E. Levie as Chief Architect
Mr. Wong Ting-tsai as Chief Architect
Mr. Au Sik-ling as Chief Structural Engineer
Mr. A. W. S. SMITH as Chief Quantity Surveyor
Mr. E. H. ROWLEY as Chief Building Surveyor
Mr. T. SEACH as Assistant Superintendent of Survey
Mr. K. B. Baker as Chief Electrical & Mechanical Engineer
Mr. W. D. A. TUCKER as Assistant Chief Engineer
Mr. A. H. WILKINS as Assistant Chief Engineer
Mr. A. T. Armstrong-WRIGHT as Assistant Chief Engineer Mr. H. R. A. ChamberlaIN as Assistant Chief Engineer
Mr. F. E. SHORT as Assistant Chief Engineer Mr. CHAN Nai-keong as Assistant Chief Engineer Mr. D. J. FITZGIBBON as Assistant Chief Engineer Mr. J. M. PETTIGREW as Assistant Chief Engineer Mr. A. FITCH as Assistant Chief Architect Mr. D. G. FARROW as Assistant Chief Architect Mr. M. A. DISERENS as Assistant Chief Architect Mr. D. W. McDONALD as Assistant Chief Architect Mr. K. T. PHILCOX as Senior Structural Engineer Mr. CHEN Shan-chuang as Assistant Chief Building Surveyor Mr. A. L. AYLMER as Assistant Chief Building Surveyor Mr. K. B. O'Sullivan as Assistant Chief Building Surveyor Mr. J. P. POTTER as Senior Estate Surveyor
Mr. J. T. CoOPER as Senior Land Surveyor
Mr. YUEN Shao-tang as Assistant Chief Electrical Engineer
6. The following promotions or postings to senior posts took place during the year:
Mr. E. P. Wilmot-Morgan, Assistant Director (Waterworks) Mr. R. FAIRBAIRN, Assistant Director (Buildings Ordinance Office)
Mr. A. S. WEBB, Chief Engineer
Mr. J. R. WHITAKER, Chief Engineer
4
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Mr. G. J. Skelt, Chief Engineer
Mr. J. T. Mallorie, Chief Architect
Mr. A. E. Claassen, Chief Structural Engineer Mr. A. F. EVANS, Chief Quantity Surveyor Mr. P. V. SHAWE, Chief Building Surveyor Mr. G. THOMSON, Chief Building Surveyor Mr. T. K. HUM, Assistant Chief Engineer Mr. A. S. Robertson, Assistant Chief Engineer Mr. B. W. JAMES, Assistant Chief Engineer Mr. W. C. BELL, Assistant Chief Engineer Mr. F. R. WHITEHEAD, Assistant Chief Engineer Mr. Wong Ting-tsai, Assistant Chief Architect
Mr. C. R. J. DONNITHORNE, Assistant Chief Architect Mr. H. W. Grace, Assistant Chief Architect Mr. Au Shik-ling, Senior Structural Engineer
Mr. R. A. Watters, Assistant Chief Building Surveyor Mr. G. L. Lowman, Assistant Chief Building Surveyor Mr. J. G. STEAN, Assistant Chief Building Surveyor
Mr. I. L. STANTON, Senior Estate Surveyor
Mr. T. SEACH, Senior Land Surveyor
Mr. D. L. T. MUSSON, Senior Estate Surveyor
Mr. K. B. BAKER, Assistant Chief Mechanical Engineer
Mr. E. L. STRANGE, M.B.E., Secretary
Mr. A. K. Suffiad, M.B.E., Secretary
7. The overseas staff of the department numbered 256, an increase of 20, and the local staff 6,648. Actual staff totalled 6,904 against an authorized establishment of 7,399. A schedule showing the distribution of staff in the department is given on page 6.
8. Some slight improvement took place in the recruitment of over- seas staff, but various vacancies remain unfilled and the position cannot as yet be considered satisfactory.
9. The total expenditure by the Department was again a record, amounting to $316,781,000 compared with $249,393,000 for the previous year. A break-down of departmental expenditure over the last nine years is presented in paragraph 365 of this report.
TRAINING
10. The provision of training facilities for artisans and young pro- fessional engineers and architects continued and was substantially ex- panded. An additional six youths between the ages of fifteen and seven- teen signed agreements whereby they will follow a course of instruction over a three-year period, part-time in the waterworks or mechanical workshops and part-time at the Technical College. This brought the number of craft apprentices up to seventy-four.
5
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STAFF FOR YEAR ENDING 31ST MARCH, 1961
(Excluding Vacancies)
Profes-
Inspec-
OFFICE
stonal
torate
Technical
(1)
(2)
Adminis-
trative &
Executive
Secretarial Clerical
Others
Total
Headquarters
Architectural Office
Buildings Ordinance Office
Crown Lands & Survey Office
12
3
2
6
60
31
118
:
:
:
86
48
83
3333
1
4
19
125
366
41
14
11
2
2
27
32
9
176
3
5
40
300
홍=
108
565
Development Office
17
7
15
1
1
6
49
96
Drainage Office
22
13
19
1
2
14
269
340
Electrical & Mechanical Office
13
34
13
2
1
49
1,551
1,663
Port Works Office
20
17
24
1
10
119
191
Roads Office
46
36
56
1
3
35
1,394
1,571
Waterworks Office
44
29
73
2
3
81
1.652
1,884
Staff seconded to Resettlement Department
1
1
2
Grand Total
6.904
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NOTE: (1) includes engineers, assistant engineers, etc.
(2) includes clerks of works, assistant clerks of works, etc.
11. The three Apprentice Engineers, indentured in the previous year, were joined by a further 15 engineering graduates from the University of Hong Kong. On behalf of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Department assisted them in gaining practical experience leading to Associate Membership of the Institution. Six architectural graduates of the University, who were appointed as Apprentice Architects, continued to gain practical experience leading to their eventual registration as Authorized Architects under the Buildings Ordinance, 1955.
12. The Superintendent of Crown Lands and Survey undertook the training of 21 Assistant Land Surveyors, 24 Probationer Assistant Engineering and Land Surveyors and 2 Assistant Planning and Valuation Surveyors.
13. During the summer vacation six Hong Kong University engineer- ing students were attached to various sub-departments for training; two architectural students were attached to the Architectural Office, and two electrical and five mechanical students were attached to the Electrical and Mechanical Office.
VISITORS DURING THE YEAR
14. Lord and Lady Melchett, who visited the Colony in June, toured development projects at Kwun Tong and viewed, by helicopter, the Tai Lam Chung Reservoir and the construction work at Shek Pik.
15. To obtain a general picture of development in the Colony, the Rt. Hon. H. E. HOLT, M.P., Federal Treasurer of Australia, inspected by helicopter various projects at widespread locations during his visit in September.
16. During a Far East tour, 13 Officers from the Imperial Defence College came to the Colony and in conjunction with a visit to resettle- ment estates, were shown the manner in which this type of development is undertaken.
17. Lord Perth, Minister of State for the Colonies, accompanied by Lady Perth and Mr. E. MELVILLE, C.M.G., Assistant Under-Secretary of State at the Colonial Office, spent over a week in the Colony during October. They showed a keen interest in the development of resettle- ment estates and were conducted on a helicopter tour of various Public Works Department projects, including the Shek Pik water supply scheme, Tsuen Wan and the Kwun Tong Development.
18. A number of members of the United Kingdom Department of Scientific and Industrial Research paid visits to the Public Works
7
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Department and showed interest in a wide field of activities. Messrs. K. E. CLARE and P. J. BEAVEN of the United Kingdom Road Research Laboratory carried out stabilization tests on the Ngau Tau Kok Road. Mr. CLARE also gave a lecture on Soil Stabilization. Mr. P. WHITELEY, from the United Kingdom Building Research Station, held discussions on the specification of building and road marking paint, and the Head of the Tropical Section of the Building Research Station, Mr. G. A. ATKINSON, who arrived in November, was conducted on an extensive tour of building projects.
19. Various discussions and visits were arranged for Mr. J. M. BAYLEY, Traffic Engineer, City of Melbourne, who spent two weeks in the Colony in December studying traffic conditions and the methods employed in dealing with our local problems.
20. In December Mr. J. C. BURGH of the Colonial Office visited the Colony and in the course of his tour inspected various development projects and the Shek Pik reservoir site.
21. The Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Crown Agents, Mr. D. C. BROWN, C.B.E., held discussions with the Waterworks Engineer and the Chief Electrical & Mechanical Engineer.
22. Visitors to the Crown Lands and Survey Office included Mr. MELVILLE of the Colonial Office and Mr. T. A. L. CONCANNON, Com- missioner of Town and Country Planning, Malaya.
ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE
Assistant Director.
G. P. NORTON, A.R.I.B.A. Chief Architects.
J. C. CHARTER, A.R.I.B.A.
J. T. MALLORIE, A.R.I.B.A., A.M.T.P.I. Chief Quantity Surveyor,
A. F. EVANS, A.R.I.C.S. Chief Structural Engineer, A. E. CLAASSEN, M.I.Struct.E. Assistant Chief Architects, H. Ross, A.R.I.B.A. W. E. LEVIE, A.R.I.B.A.
T. T. WONG, A.R.I.B.A. C. R. J. Donnithorne, A.R.I.B.A.
H. W. Grace. A.R.I.B.A.
GENERAL
23. The Architectural Office establishment, excluding watchmen and coolies, is 343. The work of the office, which again showed an increase
8
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in volume over that of previous years, includes the design and construc- tion of new Government buildings, alterations and additions to, and the maintenance of, existing Government buildings, and the supervision of construction and maintenance of private schools receiving Government grants-in-aid. Together with P.W.D. Headquarters the office acts as the liaison with private architects commissioned to carry out new building works for Government.
24. Expenditure on new works amounted to approximately $87,000,000 of which $70,000,000 was expended by the Architectural Office including $42,400,000 on Resettlement Estates while $17,000,000 was spent on Government buildings for which the services of private architects had been commissioned. In addition, nearly $2,000,000 was spent on works under the World Refugee Year Scheme, while $4,500,000 was expended on maintenance, alterations and additions and a further $443,000 on Storm Damage.
Primary Schools
EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS
25. Construction of standard Government primary schools continued, and included the completion of three 30-classroom schools, each for 1,350 children per session, at Lo Fu Ngam, Chai Wan and Tsuen Wan. Working drawings were prepared for an additional three schools, with the piling for one being carried out.
26.
These 30-classroom schools can be accommodated on sites of about 22,000 square feet. The classrooms and three practical rooms, offices, staff rooms, etc. are accommodated on five upper floors, with a covered assembly and play space at ground floor level together with an open physical training and basketball court. Additional play space is provided at roof level.
Secondary Modern Schools
27. The design for a secondary modern school at Fuk Wing Street, which was under construction at the end of the year, was based on a standard 30-classroom primary school plan, adapted to accommodate eleven practical rooms for the teaching of metal work, woodwork, science, technical drawing, typing, art and music in addition to nineteen teaching classrooms. A detached single storey block is to house the forge and building trades section. Two basketball courts, in addition to the standard recreational facilities at ground floor and roof levels, will be provided. Funds collected for the World Refugee Year were made available for this school.
9
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Secondary Schools
28. The sketch plans for a new standard 24-classroom Government secondary school for 920 pupils in one session were approved and a start was made on working drawings.
Northcote Teachers' Training College (Replacement)
29. Immediately following completion of the site formation, which included retaining walls and some foundation work, in December 1960, a building contract was let and is expected to take fourteen months to complete. The College, which is described in detail in last year's report, is intended to accommodate 400 students, 200 of whom will be resident in a hostel within the grounds. Quarters for four wardens are also included.
MEDICAL BUILDINGS
Castle Peak Mental Hospital
30. The formal opening of the hospital by His Excellency the Governor took place on 27th March. This marked the completion of the project which provides 1,000 beds and includes ancillary buildings and quarters for all the staff.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
31. After the completion of the Sisters' and Nurses' Quarters, His Excellency the Governor performed the formal opening ceremony.
32. On completion of the basement structure for the main hospital building in January 1961, tenders were invited for construction of the superstructure.
33. Sketch plans were approved for hostel accommodation for some 130 House Officers, Senior Officers, Male Nurses and Dressers to be built on the same site as the non-departmental quarters in Wylie Road.
Kowloon General Hospital
34. A new operating theatre and ward building together with a new central kitchen block, a staff recreation centre and two single-storey ward blocks for children were completed at the Kowloon General Hospital.
Queen Mary Hospital
35. Sketch plans were in course of preparation for a large extension which will accommodate operating theatres, pharmacies, central steriliz- ing and radio diagnosis sections.
10
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1
Castle Peak Mental Hospital
Opened by His Excellency the Governor on 27th March, 1961 this project provides 1.000 beds and includes quarters for all the staff. [para. 30]
*
11.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital: Sisters and Nurses Quarters
This building which includes a nursing school, represents part of a major project in progress for the construction of the new hospital. [para. 31]
Police Married Quarters for Rank and File at Cheung Sha Wan
In addition to providing 826 married quarters this scheme embodies a 24-classroom school and a medical and dental clinic: Three similar schemes were also in hand. [para. 53]
Clinics at Kam Tin and Sha Tin
36. The Director of Medical and Health Services approved sketch plans for these Clinics and Maternity Homes: seven beds at Kam Tin and twenty four beds at Sha Tin. The plans will probably be suitable for similar clinics elsewhere.
Other Medical Buildings
37. Construction of an isolation unit took place at Lai Chi Kok Hospital and sketch plans were in hand for the Yau Ma Tei Health Centre and an Out-patients Clinic and quaters at Tsuen Wan.
City Hall
URBAN SERVICES AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS
38. The construction of the City Hall continued throughout the year and though much remains to be done this new feature of Hong Kong's waterfront began to take shape.
39. The principal unit of this building is the Concert Hall which will seat 1,540 persons. Other sections of the building include a theatre for an audience of 467, a ballroom, a banqueting hall, a library, a small museum, and an art gallery.
Cape Collinson Crematorium
40. Construction of the crematorium and staff quarters continued and details of the special furnace installations were received from the manufacturers. It is expected that the facilities will be ready for use early in 1962.
Parks and Playgrounds
41. Provision of a new building designed to hold two squash-courts with spectators' galleries added to the amenities at Victoria Park. The courts are designed for international standards of play.
42. Sketch plans were completed for additional bowling greens and tennis courts at Victoria Park and drawings prepared for a bandstand. Other minor items completed at the Park included a model boating pond.
43. Site formation commenced at Fa Hui for a large recreation park and playground. A changing room and a children's library will complete the project.
44. Projects at the sketch plan stage included the Ma Tau Wai Service Reservoir playground and other playgrounds at Shek Wu Hui, Tai O and Tai Wai.
11
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Public Latrines and Bathhouses
45. Six new public latrines and bathhouses were constructed, and working drawings and sketch plans prepared for a number of others. Drawings were completed for major alterations to nine existing buildings.
Markets and Bazaars
46. Major alterations commenced at Wan Chai Market and minor items of work included the provision of cooked food stalls and hawker bazaars in various districts.
47. Work commenced on the preparation of working drawings for markets at So Kon Po and the Sai Yee Street Development Scheme, and on sketch plans for Kam Tin Market, the first of the three proposed markets for the New Territories. This building will be larger than the average village market and is intended to serve several villages in the
area.
Muslim Mosque Reprovisioning
48. Invitation to tender followed completion of working drawings for the reprovisioning of the Mosque and burial ground.
NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION
49. A Government building was completed at Peng Chau Island; it combines in a single building a small post office, fire station, sanitation office and store, and corresponding departmental quarters. Working drawings for similar schemes were completed for Sha Tau Kok and were started for Tai O.
50. A building comprising latrine and bathhouse, together with an office and quarters was finished at Shek Wu Hui.
Plover Cove District Office and Police Station
51. Sketch plans were in hand for the provision of a District Office and a police station on a site a little east of Tai Mi Tuk Village; the scheme also includes four staff quarters.
POLICE
Police Training School, Aberdeen
52. The existing Training School is to be rebuilt, and the new layout together with sketch plans of the first stage were approved. Preparation of working drawings commenced for Stage I of the scheme which com-
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prises accommodation for 800 cadets, messing and canteen facilities, quarters for the junior staff and a laundry.
Cheung Sha Wan, Rank and File Quarters
53. This large scheme providing 826 married quarters, a 24-class- room school and a medical and dental clinic was completed and the buildings occupied.
Tin Kwong Road, Kowloon, Rank and File Quarters
54. Site formation for a scheme similar to Cheung Sha Wan Rank and File Quarters progressed concurrently with the preparation of work- ing drawings. This scheme will include 716 married quarters and a 30- classroom school.
Other Rank and File Quarters
55. Sketch plans completed for a revised type of married quarters for the North Point area make provision for 661 quarters and a 30- classroom school.
56. Preparation of sketch plans started on a smaller but somewhat similar scheme for Kennedy Town.
Police Stations and Posts
57. The extension of the Police Stations at Sheung Shui and Tai Po provided improved barrack accommodation.
58. In addition to the police post built at Rennies Mill Village, sketch plans were prepared for the following other projects:
(1) Additional barrack accommodation for Tai O Police Station;
(2) Improvements to the Green Island Police Post;
(3) Observation posts at Nam Shang Wai, Tsim Bei Tsui and Pak Nai in
the New Territories.
(4) Police station and barracks at Lau Fau Shan.
FIRE BRIGADE
59. Standard type three-bay fire stations were built at Aberdeen and Lai Chi Kok. Construction advanced on a third similar station at Kwun Tong.
60. At Shek Wu Hui additional barrack accommodation formed an extension to the existing station building.
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Stanley Prison
PRISONS DEPARTMENT BUILDINGS
61. An upper floor of approximately 20,000 square feet was added to the existing one-storey prison workshop.
62. Alterations to the existing dining and kitchen areas to provide additional barrack accommodation, and an extension for a dining room, recreation and kitchen facilities to serve 200 persons were considered and drawings prepared.
Chi Ma Wan
63. Working drawings for additional warders' quarters approached completion. The Prisons Department excavated the site to required levels and undertook the manufacture of precast concrete units for the project.
Cape Collinson Training Centre
64. Tenders for this scheme were received towards the end of the year. The scheme, which provides a training centre in attractive sur- roundings overlooking the sea, comprises classrooms, workshops, dining and recreational facilities for young offenders, and accommodation for officers and warders.
Tong Fuk Short Term Prison
65. Sketch plans were completed for this proposed prison. They provide for accommodation for one thousand first offenders.
Tai Lam Chung Prison
66. Working drawings were under preparation for 50 warders' quarters to the north of the watercourse and facing the prison compound.
RESETTLEMENT BUILDINGS
67. The very extensive and intensive programme for the construction of resettlement buildings continued. 34 blocks in resettlement estates were completed, providing accommodation for some 70,000 people and work or arrangements were in progress for a further 35 blocks to provide accommodation for about 90,000 people. The completed projects in- cluded the provision of 61 classrooms each 20 feet by 26 feet together with ancillary, administrative and staff accommodation on the ground floors of the resettlement buildings.
68. The completion of a single-storey factory and a flatted factory provided about 103,000 square feet of working space.
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2
Chai Wan Resettlement Estate
The photograph shows the two resettlement blocks which were completed and others approaching completion. In the centre can be seen the recently completed 30-classroom school. [para. 71]
t
Tung Tau Resettlement
Estate Stage I
One of the four new type resettlement blocks complet ed at Tung Tau. [para. 71]į
FOR EV
**
T
Sai Ying Pun Polyclinic The eight upper floors d this building provide mo dern facilities for elever specialist clinics, an X-ray i department and Pathologi cal institute. Staff quarters and offices are housed on the lower ground floor.
(Architects: Leigh & Orange) [para. 95(3)]
gle
69. Expenditure on resettlement buildings amounted to $42.4 millions compared with $27.62 millions in 1959-60 and $20.18 millions in 1958-59.
70. Details of the work carried out on resettlement buildings are as follows:
Buildings Completed
71. Buildings at the following resettlement estates were completed.
(1) Jordan Valley: seven domestic blocks.
(2) Kwun Tong: fifteen domestic blocks.
(3) Chai Wan (Stage II): two domestic blocks.
(4) Li Cheng Uk (Stage IV): two domestic blocks.
(5) Tai Wo Hau (Stage I): three domestic blocks.
(6) Cheung Sha Wan (No. 2 Factory): one five-storey and one single-
storey flatted factory.
(7) Tung Tau (Stage I): four domestic blocks.
Projects in Progress
72. Site formation, piling or construction was in progress for build- ings at the following resettlement estates.
(1) Kwun Tong: construction of five domestic blocks was well advanced. (2) Chai Wan: construction of five domestic blocks advanced.
(3) Tai Wo Hau (Stage I): construction started on seven domestic blocks
and on a flatted factory.
(4) Wang Tau Hom: site formation for the 25 blocks in this estate was
well in hand, and a piling contract let for some of the blocks.
(5) Tung Tau (Stage 1): construction of eleven domestic resettlement
blocks reached an advanced stage.
(6) Lo Fu Ngam (Stage III) and Tai Wo Hau (Stage III): tenders were received for the site formation for eleven and six blocks respectively in these estates.
(7) Wong Tai Sin (Area 'D'): piling and site formation were completed
and tenders received for five domestic blocks.
(8) Cheung Sha Wan (No. 3 Factory): construction of a standard 'H'
type factory approached completion.
Drawings and Plans under Preparation
73. Contract drawings were in course of preparation to enable work to commence during the coming year on the following:
(1) Tsz Wan Shan: an estate containing 43 domestic blocks.
(2) Yau Tong Bay: an estate which will provide accommodation for some
27,000 people.
(3) Tung Tau (Stage III): an extension to the Stage I area providing
accommodation for some 19,000 people.
(4) San Po Kong (formerly Kai Tak released lands): to provide two
factories of a new design.
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74. Revised layouts for the proposed estates at Yau Tong Bay and Tin Wan (Aberdeen) made use of the Low Cost Housing type plan, with a reduced standard of finishes.
75. Sketch plans were prepared for the development of a new area at So Mo Ping which is on the high land above the existing Kwun Tong Estate.
Resettlement Department Staff Quarters
76. (1) Kwun Tong: piling and site formation work was completed and
tenders were received for the construction work.
(2) Wong Tai Sin: tenders for the piled foundations were invited.
(3) Tai Wo Hau: tenders for the site formation were received.
(4) Chai Wan: working drawings were almost completed and tenders for
the construction work were being prepared.
Community Centres
SOCIAL WELFARE BUILDINGS
77. The community centre at Wong Tai Sin Resettlement Estate was completed and the Social Welfare Department and various voluntary organizations occupied the building.
78. Construction of a similar community centre at Tsuen Wan approached completion at the end of the year.
79. Funds contributed by the United States of America and Great Britain for the World Refugee Year were made available for the Wong Tai Sin and Tsuen Wan projects.
Castle Peak Boys' Home
80. Sketch plans were prepared for fourteen staff quarters situated on the seaward side of the Home.
POST OFFICES
81. Sketch designs for post offices at San Tin, Kam Tin and San Hui neared completion.
Kowloon Central Post Office
82. Preparation of working drawings commenced for this project which is to be constructed on a very restricted site on the west side of Nathan Road at its junction with Gascoigne Road and will consist of a post office occupying the lower four floors, a general canteen for office staff and fourteen floors of Government offices above.
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83. The building will be fully air conditioned, and designed for maximum flexibility so that internal planning of a department can be adjusted to suit initial and subsequent requirements.
GENERAL BUILDINGS
Temporary offices on Central Reclamation
84. The construction commenced on the second phase of temporary offices on the Central Reclamation consisting of single-storey buildings to accommodate the Macau Ferry companies and warehouse buildings for the Department of Commerce and Industry.
Non-departmental Quarters, Wylie Road
85. Sketch plans for 48 quarters for civil servants on a site off Wylie Road, which adjoins the site of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, received approval. The plan embodies a simple structural frame providing some flexibility in the arrangement and use of the living room and dining areas.
Wong Nai Chung Road, Naval Quarters
86. Working drawings were completed and tenders invited for the demolition of the existing Government quarters at Wong Nai Chung Road so that piling and construction work could proceed for the provi- sion of 60 quarters for Naval personnel.
Other Buildings
87. Preparation of working drawings continued for offices and work- shops at Caroline Hill and at To Kwa Wan, both for the Electrical and Mechanical Office.
88. Other projects at the sketch plan or working drawing stage in- cluded 80 quarters for civil servants at Mount Nicholson and 26 near Gascoigne Road. Minor projects at a similar stage included the Tai Lam Quarantine Depot, a Fisheries and Marine Office at Shau Kei Wan, a Revenue Station Barracks and Inspectors' Quarters at Castle Peak.
89. 60 flats for civil servants were built on the old site of Buxey Lodge, and new offices provided for the Radio Monitoring Unit.
MAINTENANCE SECTION
Maintenance of Government Buildings
90. The amount spent on routine maintenance on 214 Government and Government leased properties amounted to $4,040,000 ($1,280,000 less than the previous year).
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The major items on the programme included:
(1) Education Offices, Battery Path.
(2) Central Market,
(3) Star Ferry Concourses, Hong Kong and Kowloon. (4) Quarry Bay School.
(5) Eastern Police Station and Quarters.
(6) Central Magistracy.
(7) Caine Road and Park Road Police Departmental Quarters.
(8) Aberdeen Police Station.
(9) Stanley Prison Local Staff Quarters.
(10) New asphalt roof finish to Main Block, Queen Mary Hospital.
(11) New asphalt roof finish to Laundry and Workshop, Stanley Prison. (12) Grantham Training College.
(13) King George V School.
(14) Mission Road School.
(15) Technical College, Kowloon.
(16) Kowloon Magistracy.
(17) Yau Ma Tei Police Station.
(18) Public Latrines, Hong Kong and Kowloon.
(19) Royal Observatory.
(20) Rank and File Quarters, Fanling Police Depot.
Alterations, Additions and Improvements
91. 275 items costing $605,000 were approved. These included:
(1) Alterations to ground and first floors of 'A' block, Kowloon Hospital. (2) Provision of fly-screening to windows and doors of the Urban Services Department dining hall, kitchen and rice store, at the refuse dump at Gin Drinker's Bay.
(3) Construction of two additional bays, Tai Po Land Office.
(4) Installation of postal call box units in Kowloon Post Office.
(5) Provision of power supply to Police Training Contingent, Fanling. (6) Alterations to provide office accommodation for Census Department,
Golden Court.
(7) Construction of additional office accommodation for Social Welfare
Centre, Shau Kei Wan.
(8) Conversion of the old Pathological Institute into a Physiotherapy
Training School.
(9) Conversion of parts of two wards into bathrooms for use by ortho-
paedic patients at Lai Chi Kok Hospital.
(10) Alterations to provide additional office accommodation for the Mar- riage Registry in the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Building, Mong Kok, Kowloon.
(11) Construction of an approach road to Castle Peak Boys' Home. (12) Alterations to the ex R.A.F. Movement Control Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui, to provide additional accommodation for Kowloon Postal Sorting Office.
(13) Improvement of the ventilation to Custodial Ward, Queen Mary
Hospital.
(14) Construction of an additional shelter for food recipients at the Social
Welfare Centre, Happy Valley.
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Sobole
Kwun Tong Development Area
This makes an interesting comparison with a similar photograph published in the 1959-60 Report and indicates the high rate of development for both industry and resettlement, the latter being completely absent in the previous photograph. [para. 181}
Kowloon Reservoir in
March 1960
At the beginning of the year, the very dry winter, lack of early summer rains and increased consumption made it necessary to restrict hours of supply to 3 hours daily. [para. 301]
Submarine Pipes being reinforced prior to laying
Piping water from the reservoir being constructed Shek Pik on Lantau Island is one of the major schemes being undertaken to com- bat the precarious water supply situation. [para. 354]
Miscellaneous Maintenance
92. White ant inspections were carried out on 235 buildings, nine more than last year.
93. The very heavy rains and Typhoon 'Mary' necessitated expen- diture of $442,700 on 'Rainstorm and Typhoon Damage' though this was $1,068,000 less than the amount spent in the previous year.
WORKS CARRIED OUT BY PRIVATE ARCHITECTS
94. 50 Government building projects undertaken by architects in private practice were at various stages of development. The financial and administrative control of these projects remained with the Public Works Department which maintained close liaison between the client departments and the private architects through Architectural Office staff.
95. The following buildings were completed:
(1) New Technical College, Kowloon-Laboratories and Workshops (Mr.
W. SZETO);
(2) A small dispensary with a six-bed maternity ward at Sha Tau Kok
(Messrs. Spence, Robinson & Partners);
(3) A nine storey Polyclinic at Sai Ying Pun (Messrs. Leigh & Orange); (4) A block of quarters in Green Lane containing 60 flats for married
Police Inspectors (Messrs. Spence, Robinson & Partners);
(5) Causeway Bay Magistracy-a ten-storey building containing three Magistrate's Courts, Juvenile Court and Offices for Government Departments (Messrs. Palmer & Turner);
(6) North Kowloon Magistracy-a six-storey building at the junction of Castle Peak Road and Tai Po Road, containing four Magistrate's Courts, Juvenile Court and Offices for Government Departments (Messrs. Palmer & Turner);
(7) Resettlement Estate Staff Quarters at Li Cheng Uk, containing offices
and fourteen quarters for Estate Staff (Professor W. G. GREGORY).
96. Buildings under construction include:
(1) A twenty-four classroom primary school at Blake Gardens (Messrs.
T. C. Yuen & Co.);
(2) Clementi Middle School at Fortress Hill (Messrs. Kwan, Chu & Yang); (3) A police station and Resettlement Estate Staff Quarters, Shek Kip Mei
(Mr. Robert Fan);
(4) A two-storey Magistracy containing two Magistrate's Courts and Offices
together with eight quarters at Fanling (Messrs. Palmer & Turner); (5) District Branch Offices at Kwun Tong (Messrs. Wong & Ng Asso-
ciates);
(6) A fountain at Star Ferry Concourse, Tsim Sha Tsui (Messrs. Leigh &
Orange);
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(7) Reprovisioning of Military Establishments (Messrs. Leigh & Orange,
Messrs. Chau & Lee and Mr. W. Szɛto);
(8) Aircraft Maintenance Depot, Kai Tak (Mr. C. K. Larard).
97. Projects for which sketch plans or working drawings were in hand or for which tenders were invited include:
(1) Five new primary schools, each of thirty classrooms, two in Central District (Mr. W. H. KWAN), one in Canal Road, East (Mr. Y. O. LEE), one in Hennessy Road (Mr. Faitfone WONG) and one in Western District (Mr. A. H. BASTO);
(2) A new primary school of twenty-four classrooms in Queen's Road,
East (Mr. N. J. Chien);
(3) Extensions to primary schools at Pok Fu Lam (Messrs. Chau & Lee). at North Point (Messrs. Leigh & Orange) and to Kowloon Junior School (Messrs. Palmer & Turner);
(4) A new Secondary School-Belilios Public School (Messrs. Hsin Yieh
Architects and Associates);
(5) A new Secondary Technical School in Kowloon (Mr. W. SZETO); (6) Extensions to Ho Tung Girls' Secondary Technical School (Professor
J. S. L. Woo);
(7) Extensions to Queen's College (Messrs. Iu & Co.) and to Yuen Long
Middle School (Mr. Y. O. Lee);
(8) Extensions and Alterations to Queen Mary Hospital (Mr. Eric CUMINE); (9) Health Centre and Maternity Home at Kwun Tong (Messrs. Wong &
Ng Associates);
(10) Medical Department Stores at Pok Fu Lam (Professor W. G.
GREGORY);
(11) Kowloon Tsai Park and Swimming Pool (Messrs. Leigh & Orange); (12) Market at So Kon Po and Sai Yee Street Development Depot for
Urban Services (Mr. Wong Cho-tong);
(13) Whitfield Development Scheme Depot for Urban Services (Mr. T. C.
YUEN);
(14) Market at Tsuen Wan (Mr. D. S. Phelps):
(15) Abattoirs in Hong Kong and Kowloon (Messrs. Hal Williams & Co.); (16) Airport Police Station (Mr. H. S. Luke);
(17) 100 Fire Brigade Married Quarters at North Point (Messrs. Hsin Yieh
Architects and Associates);
(18) Divisional Police Stations at Kwun Tong, Wong Tai Sin and Yuen
Long (Mr. Eric CUMINE);
(19) Mong Kok Police Station (Messrs. Hsin Yieh Architects & Associates); (20) Probation/Remand Home for Boys, Begonia Road, Yau Yat Chuen,
Kowloon. (Messrs. Chau & Lee);
(21) Welfare Centre, Aberdeen (Messrs. Kwan Chu & Yang);
(22) Children's Reception Centre, Chuk Yuen (Messrs. Chau & Lee);
(23) Western District Magistracy (Messrs. Palmer & Turner);
(24) District Branch Office at Yuen Long (Mr. W. Szeto);
(25) Yuen Long District Branch Office and Clinic (Mr. W. Szeto);
(26) Preventive Service Married Quarters, Hung Hom (Hazeland & Co.).
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BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE
Assistant Director,
R. FAIRBAIRN, F.R.I.C.S., M.R.S.H. Chief Building Surveyors, P. V. SHAWE, F.R.I.C.S., M.R.S.H. G. THOMSON, A.R.I.B.A.
Assistant Chief Building Surveyors, E. H. ROWLEY, A.R.I.C.S.
R. A. C. BROWN, A.R.I.C.S., A.A.L.P.A. R. A. WATTERS, A.R.I.C.S.
G. L. LowMAN, A.R.I.C.S.
J. G. STEAN, A.R.I.C.S.
Senior Structural Engineer,
Au Sik-ling, B.Sc., A.M.I.Struct.E., M.R.S.H.
98. The volume of building works undertaken in the Colony continued at a high level; the capital expenditure on private building works being approximately $264,000,000, some $11,000,000 less than the figure for 1959-60. However, with the increased sale of Crown land there was every indication that capital expenditure in private buildings was increasing.
99. The comprehensive provisions of the revised and new regulations made under the Buildings Ordinance, 1955, which came into effect on the 1st January, 1960, and the Code of Practice published in December 1959, in connexion with the means of escape and allied requirements, inevitably added to the amount and complexity of the work of this office. The revision of the scale of fees for permits to erect balconies and canopies over Crown Land and public streets resulted in the issue of Demand Notes for over $5,600,000 in this, the first full year of operation. 100. Of 577 new buildings completed, 407 were for domestic use. Domestic Buildings
101. All types of domestic buildings continued to be in great demand with an increase in the number of higher grade European type flats and hotels. The completion of three large hotels in Tsim Sha Tsui provided much needed accommodation for tourists, which will be further increased when two large hotels under construction in the Central area of Hong Kong are completed. The Housing Society completed two large projects at Kai Tak and Kwun Tong and were engaged on two larger projects at Shau Kei Wan and Aberdeen.
Non-domestic Buildings
102. In the business centres of Hong Kong and Kowloon, the re- development of sites by the erecton of multi-storey composite buildings
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continued unabated and the demand for office accommodation in these areas was high. The number of school and hospital buildings constructed also continued to be high.
103. Industrial building maintained a high rate, particularly in Kwun Tong where the rate of building gathered momentum.
104. During the year four plans for new cinemas and theatres were approved and interest in this field appeared to be growing.
Dangerous Buildings, Landslips and Flooding
105. Buildings becoming dangerous by fire, dilapidation or other causes, necessitated the issue of thirteen Closure Orders and some 213 notices to repair premises in a dangerous condition.
106. During Typhoon 'Mary', a 24-hour shift system was established to deal with emergency calls. In spite of the anxiety which had been felt for the safety of the Colony's older buildings, the damage to them was gratifyingly light.
107. The storm damage organization received 147 emergency calls, including 82 during June, in respect of dangerous buildings, landslips and flooding. 62 building collapses, 13 landslips, 6 emergency shorings and 21 fires received attention.
Assistance to other Government Departments
108. Inspections continued to be made on behalf of the Police (as Licensing Authority) of places of public entertainment and printing establishments. Advice was given to the Education Department in connexion with the registration of buildings used as schools but not designed and constructed as such, and to the Urban Services Department in connexion with premises used as restaurants. In all 926 inspections were made on behalf of other departments.
109. The application of the Buildings Ordinance to the New Territories could not be achieved in 1960 and building proposals con- tinued to be examined by the Building Authority on behalf of the District Commissioner. On the 1st January, 1961, however, the Buildings Ordinance became applicable to the New Territories and the Building Authority commenced to examine plans and inspect building works under this Ordinance.
Approval of Building Plans
110. 4,756 approval permits representing 6,448 buildings or building operations were issued in respect of the following:
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Domestic Buildings
26 European type houses 461 Tenement buildings
133 Blocks of European type flats 13 Blocks of Low Cost Housing 27 Composite buildings
2 Hotels
14 Miscellaneous domestic buildings
Non-domestic Buildings
69 Factories and workshops
14 Godowns and stores
16 Office buildings
3 Bank buildings
4 Cinemas and theatres
23 Schools
3 Clinics and Welfare centres
6 Religious buildings
1 Film studio
56 Miscellaneous non-domestic buildings
Other Building Operations
868 Drainage and plumbing installations
1,343 Structural details and calculations including piling work.
822 Alterations, additions and extensions to buildings
1,866 Amended plans for buildings
593 Buildings for demolition
81 Site formations
2 Street works
2 Access roads
Inspections
111. In addition to the inspection of works for which plans were approved and inspections carried out on behalf of other departments, the testing of drains continued in various districts.
Issue of Notices and Permits
112. Occupation permits were issued for 60 European type houses, 26 Chinese type houses, 65 blocks of European type flats, 204, tenement buildings, 2 dormitory buildings, 14 composite buildings, 5 apartment buildings, 4 hotels, 12 blocks of low cost housing schemes, 2 blocks of workers' quarters, 1 workers' quarters, 1 hospital, 1 institutional building, 1 caretaker's quarters, 1 servants' quarters, 6 additional storeys to exist- ing buildings, 1 extension to quarters and 1 staff quarters.
113. It became necessary to issue legal notices in respect of 213 dangerous buildings and 909 legal notices for the removal of illegal
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structures and abatement of drainage nuisances. Infringement of regulations resulted in two prosecutions and the issue of thirteen Cease Works orders.
114. 886 miscellaneous permits for matsheds, hoardings and scaffold- ings were issued or renewed.
Registrations of Contractors
115. 95 Building contractors, three Lift contractors and two Escalator contractors were registered.
CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE
Superintendent of Crown Lands & Survey, C. S. BARRON, M.B.E., A.R.I.C.S. Assistant Superintendent, Crown Lands, R. H. HUGHES, M.A. (Cantab.), F.R.I.C.S. Assistant Superintendent, Planning,
R. C. Clarke, B.Eng. (Min.), LL.B. (Lond.), D.P.A. (Lond.), A.M.I.Min.E., A.R.I.C.S.
Assistant Superintendent, Survey,
A. R. GILES, A.R.I.C.S., F.V.I., F.R.G.S.
GENERAL
Staff
116. The total authorized establishment amounted to 409, an in- crease of 64 over the previous year. These figures do not include the New Territories Cadastral Survey establishment of 169.
117. Senior recruitments during the year included two Estate Sur- veyors, one Land Surveyor, one Planning Officer and 4 Assistant Planning Officers, but vacancies for 1 Land Surveyor and 2 Estate Surveyors remained unfilled.
118. The total revenue collected compared with 1959-60 is as follows:
Premia in land sales, etc. Permit Fees
Rental for ex-Kowloon Dockyard
properties
Boundary Stones & Survey Fees Plans sold to the public
1959-60
1960-61
$20,998,349.84 $70,657,061.41
2,500,875.42
8,208,662.04
171,107.00 1,198,536.19
44,522.30
21,826.10
4,514.58
8,748.93
$23,719,369.14 $80,094,834.67
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70
60
Public Auction
Private Treaty.
making)
(Fostitutions at c.
For non-profit making
NO.
OF
SALES
ON
50
40
30
20
10
日
CROWN LANDS & SURVEY OFFICE
LAND SALES
DECADE 1951-61
Public Auction
Private Treaty
Total
70
60
40
30
20
10
1981-52 1952-43 1953-54 1954-55 1955-56 1956-57 1957-58 1958-59 1959-40 1960-61
Digitized by Google
PREMIA
IN
MILLIONS
OF
DOLLARS
CROWN LANDS DIVISION
119. The year was marked by a change in the method of disposal of Crown land in the urban area. Most of the sales were in accordance with a programme drawn up by the Crown Lands & Survey Office, with only a few sales being made to meet applications for individual sites. This resulted in a steady process of auction sales from June 1960 onwards at the rate of about 2 sales per week. The change in method resulted in a big increase in the value and numbers of lots disposed of, as may be seen from the graph on the opposite page.
Auction Sales
120. Industrial. Sales by public auction comprised 46 lots varying in size from 1,800 square feet to 102,000 square feet. Kowloon Inland Lot No. 4427 at Sham Shui Po realized the highest price which re- presented a premium of $154.57 per square foot.
121. Non-Industrial. Non-industrial sites sold totalled 37, which included 1 school site, 1 funeral parlour site and 1 site restricted to mechanical transport and service station use. The highest price ever realized for a lot of Crown land at public auction, viz. $14,250,000, was bid for the northern portion of Murray Parade Ground (Inland Lot No. 7702). It represented a premium of $365.39 per square foot.
Private Treaty Grants
122. 116 lots or extensions to lots were granted by private treaty, 14 being by exchange and 24 being free grants for schools, welfare centres and non-profit making clinics and a cemetery. 32 lots were granted for local Government officers housing schemes. Details of these private treaty grants are shown on page 28.
Land for Government and Government-sponsored projects
123. Government continued to be the biggest single developer of land after the requirements for communications and the Armed Forces. Probably the largest single land consumer is the Resettlement Depart- ment which has developed about 400 acres during the past five years.
Clearances and Resettlement
124. The Crown Lands Division continued to be responsible for co-ordinating all clearances required by the Public Works Department and for subsequent liaison with the Resettlement Department. Where clearances involved large industrial establishments or other users which
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could not be resettled in domestic or flatted factory resettlement blocks, this Division undertook responsibility for clearance. 31 applica- tions for summons in connexion with clearances were made to the Magistrates. In some cases matters did not have to be pursued to the point of a hearing in Court; however each of the 23 cases taken before the Magistrates, resulted in clearance orders being obtained.
Naval Dockyard
125. Lettings of property in the former Kowloon Naval Yard, on monthly tenancies, produced rents for the year totalling approximately $1,078,000. Apart from two old houses, all the area was let or occupied by Government departments at the end of the year.
126. Government took over the greater part of the portion of the Hong Kong Naval Yard forming the site of the proposed Waterfront Road. Progressive handing over of the remainder of the area south of the Road followed at intervals. Some parts were taken over after demolition of buildings, other parts with the buildings still standing. Government departments requiring temporary accommodation occupied the buildings pending construction of accommodation already approved under 1960-61-62 Estimates. The Chinese Manufacturers' Association and other exhibitions were also given temporary accommodation. Approximately half of the Yard had been handed over by the end of the year.
Statistics
127. Revenue. Details of the premia derived from land transactions in the Urban area compared with the previous year are:
(1) Sales by Auction:
1959-60
Island
689,800.00
1960-61
$17,083,100.00
Kowloon
4,700,000.00
8,239,000.00
New Kowloon (including
Kwun Tong)
4,307,510.20
31,075,459.59
(2) Sales without Auction :
Island
1,986,332.00
1,046,500.00
Kowloon
768,836.00
2,546,202.00
New Kowloon (including
Kwun Tong)
1,341,280.00
1,212,960.00
(3) Exchanges & Extensions :
Island
394,104.02
2,090.750.41
Kowloon
293,822.38
65,685.00
New Kowloon (including
Kwun Tong)
143,406.84
260,242.51
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(4) Modifications of Lease Conditions:
Island Kowloon
New Kowloon (including
Kwun Tong)
1959-60
1960-61
537,106.61 $ 1,146,870.05
493,031.59
716,143.83
3,870,080.28
3,301,452.72
(5) Grant of new Crown Leases:
Island
106,064.46
381,500.43
Kowloon
1,330,787.46
1,491,194.87
New Kowloon
(6) Piers & Wharves :
144
Island Kowloon
New Kowloon
6,116.00
9,510.00
20,562.00
$20,998,349.84 $70,657,061.41
128. Land Transactions. A summary of the various categories of
land transactions is given below:
New
Hong
Kowloon
Kowloon
Kong
(including
Total No. of cases
Kwun Tong)
-Illallw|
-eng--|
1
1
4
9
15
15
5
34
41
5
1
1
1
1
1
(1) Land Sale by Auction:
Unrestricted User
Non-industrial
2
Residential & Commercial
Residential
3
Industrial
Godowns
School
1
Cinema or Theatre
Funeral Parlour
Mechanical
Station
..
Transport and Service
(2) Private Treaty Grants:
Local Officers Housing
Low Cost Housing Workers Housing *Schools
School and Church
Church
*Welfare Centres
*Clinics
*Cemetery
Electric Sub-Station
Telephone Exchange
Right of Ingress and Egress
1
2
2
AMMANIN Name
1
1
2
1
1
∞-30- | | | | |-
2
22
8
32
2
3
3
5
10
19
1
1
1
1
2
1
2--~| | | |
1
Note:
denotes free grants.
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(3) Exchanges and Extensions:
Exchanges
Extensions
Excess Area
(4) Modification and removal of 20 Years
Restrictions:
Modifications
Removal of 20 Years Restrictions
(5) 75-Year Non-renewable Leases
Regrants
New
Hong
Kowloon
Total No.
Kowloon
Kong
(including
of cases
Kwun Tong)
8
1
8
12
-2-
5
2
3
1
7
432
14
13
20
6
13
17
5
13
36
3
1***
8
3
59
62
During
To date
Description
1960-61
129. Kwun Tong. A further 48 Kwun Tong Inland Lots were sold by public auction and private treaty during this year.
130. Details of the lots sold to date at Kwun Tong New Town are as follows:
No. of Lots Sold
Amount of Premium realized to date
Area in sq. ft.
105
24
Industrial (including excess
and extension area)
2,270,624
$47,861,832.41
2
Flatted Factory
55,148
578,488.03
1
Filling Station
4,000
48,000.00
5
5
Godowns
93,795
4,321,000.00
6
2
Residential
32,070
1,107,800.00
11
11
Residential and Commercial
72,854
2,805,500.00
3
3
Non-industrial
24,750
2,042,000.00
1
Commercial
7,800
124,800.00
7
3
Workers Housing
91,475
706,400.00
1
Low Cost Housing
195,000
199,000.00
3
Electric Power Sub-stations
12,400
148,800.00
Modification of Sale
Conditions
1.184.259.00
145
48
Note:
2,859,916
$61,127,879.44
Purchasers of all factory and godown lots opted to pay premia by instal-
ments.
Total premium received 1956-57 Total premium received 1957-58 Total premium received 1958-59 Total premium received 1959-60 Total premium received 1960-61
$
455,934.00
2.511,791.64
1,806,719.22
2,709,697.07
12,920,757.63
Total amount received
$20,404,899.56
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Permits
131. The re-issue of Crown land permits under the Summary Offences (Licences & Fees) Regulations, 1959, was completed. The new scale of fees represented increases of up to 30 times the previous scale of fees, but while some boatyard and domestic permittees objected, the number of cases of non-payment of fees was insignificant. The opportunity was taken to revise all permit plans as well as the conditions of permits. Cancellation of non-conforming permits and consolidation of others resulted in the total number of permits being reduced from a total of 12,253 under the old form to a total of 5,427 under the 1959 Regulations.
Valuation and Resumption
132. Valuations were made for the following purposes:
(1) Resumptions under the Crown Lands Resumption Ordinance (Cap. 124); surrenders for street and other improvements; regrants of 75- year non-renewable Crown Leases; sale and purchase of land and buildings by Government; town planning; extensions to existing lots; removal of restrictive covenants; etc.
(2) In addition this Section valued all hereditaments falling to be assessed for Estate Duty purposes amounting in all to $40,995,109.96, and also gave assistance to other Government departments on valuation matters. (3) Work continued in the negotiation of surrenders for such purposes as road improvements, implementation of planning layouts, etc., the case for the Crown being presented before four Arbitration Boards formed to determine compensation payable under the Crown Lands Resump- tion Ordinance. Preparatory work was carried out for Boards which may be convened for other resumptions gazetted near the end of the year under review.
Regrants of 75-Year Non-Renewable Leases
133. Leases granted for expired or expiring 75-year non-renewable leases, numbered 62. A Government announcement issued on 18th October, 1960, set out the new terms and conditions for the grant of new leases. Applications received before 1 p.m. on 18th October, 1960, however remained eligible for consideration on the old terms and conditions.
Enforcement of Lease Conditions
134. Routine inspections of numerous lots resulted in action being taken to terminate offences against restrictive lease covenants or in the grant of modifications where appropriate.
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Modification of Lease Conditions
135. Modifications of restrictive user or development conditions were granted in respect of twenty seven lots; the 'twenty year' restrictions on assignment, subletting, etc. were removed, on payment of a premium in each case, in respect of 5 lots.
PLANNING DIVISION
General
136. 1960-61 saw a significant increase in the activities of the Planning Division. A resurgence in the economy of the Colony resulted in a marked increase in the demand for land, particularly for industrial development. This in turn caused increasing pressure for the planning and layout of new areas, since the wisdom of building only in accordance with some form of overall plan became more and more appreciated by those concerned with development.
137. The preparation of long term outline development schemes takes place under two main heads:
(1) Statutory plans prepared in accordance with the Town Planning
Ordinance.
(2) Departmental plans prepared on the authority of the Director of
Public Works.
Preparation and approval of the former category of plans follows a set procedure laid down in the Ordinance which requires exhibition of the draft plan for a period of 2 months, consideration by the Board of any objections received and for submission to, and approval by, the Governor in Council. The latter category of plans follows a somewhat similar procedure except that exhibition for public comment is not mandatory (though comments of public bodies are sometimes sought) and approval is purely departmental (inter-departmental in the New Territories) and of no statutory significance.
Statutory Plans
138. During 1960-61 the Town Planning Board met on ten occasions. The Outline Development Plan of Kowloon Planning Areas 8 and 11 passed through all stages and received approval in December 1960. The plan covers 1,350 acres of the mainland from Waterloo Road east- wards to Clear Water Bay Road, including Diamond Hill and the Air- port, and providing for a population of some 650,000 people. Minor amendments were approved to the approved plans for the Yau Ma Tei and Hung Hom districts in Kowloon. The Board gave much time to the
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plan for the Central City Areas of Victoria and the Outline Plan of Sha Tin and district both of which approached completion at the end of the year. The Board sought and received much useful advice in respect of the Central Areas of Victoria from interested organizations and from utility companies. During the year the Board received in- structions to prepare plans for the Tsim Sha Tsui District of Kowloon and the new industrial township of Tsuen Wan/Kwai Chung/Tsing Yi; a scheme for the latter area was provisionally agreed by the Board at the end of the year.
Departmental Plans
139. Departmental plans embrace a much wider section of the Colony than those prepared in accordance with the Town Planning Ordinance and the coverage was considerably extended. A complete list of the main planning schemes dealt with during the year is given on pages 34, 35 and 36.
140. A number of new outline development plans for the north side of the Island from Kennedy Town on the west to Wan Chai on the east were prepared and circulated, while on the south the outline plan of Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau, including extensive new reclamation and sea protection works, formed the subject of discussion with Kaifong representatives and Government departments. In addition several new layout plans prepared for various parts of the Island received approval which permitted the sale and development of land to proceed.
141. In Kowloon and New Kowloon the approval of the statutory plan for Districts 8 and 11 enabled detailed layouts to be prepared for individual sections and in particular for the industrial and commercial areas of San Po Kong (Airport Released Land). Demand for land in this area was such that, with layout plans still in draft form, a sales programme was drawn up and sales took place as soon as the layouts were approved. Extension of Kwun Tong New Town continued and detailed layouts of the Commercial Centre and of Housing Zone III were approved; the former was accompanied by a model and provides three-dimensional control of development. This centre is designed to form the nucleus of a new town with a population of some 300,000 people.
New Territories
142. Much planning effort continued to be directed towards the opening up of the New Territories. Apart from the work done for the
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Town Planning Board in connexion with outline plans of the Tsuen Wan and Sha Tin districts, departmental plans were prepared for sections of Tai Po (commercial/residential and industrial), Junk Bay (industrial), Yuen Long (commercial/residential and industrial) and Castle Peak (New Town). Plans prepared for the area from Castle Peak to Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung were based on an eventual population of about one million persons in this sector.
143. Preparation of other plans included layouts for Sham Tseng and Tsing Lung Tau, the latter being approved inter-departmentally. Much day-to-day work in connexion with the rapid development of Tsuen Wan became necessary to ensure that immediate expediency did not prejudice long term proposals.
Research and Statistics
144. The increasing demand for industrial land and development justifies more research into the question of long term industrial location and the desirable ratio of housing to industrial land; data on this matter is essential when planning new towns. Statistics from sample surveys formed the basis for the preparation of outline develop- ment plans. These statistics are to be supplemented shortly from information obtained from the Department of Commerce and Industry and the Census, though the Planning Division is not staffed to carry out the research necessary to make full use of the data available.
145. Likewise the extension of development to new areas and redevelopment of existing areas is placing an increasing demand on public utility organizations. They are naturally reluctant to lay out more money than is essential to meet probable future demand and in order to know what this demand is likely to be they require in- formation on the type of development, whether industrial, residential or commercial, the standard and density of housing, etc., all of which affects the size of cables, watermains or other underground services. Much economy can result from an accurate forecast.
146. Requests from utilities for advice on forward planning are frequently made to the Planning Division and early in the year an attempt was made to tackle the problem systematically. Existing and future (1975) populations in each of the Kowloon and New Kowloon planning districts were
were estimated, the intention being to base community requirements on these figures. Unfortunately, while the figures were a useful guide in certain cases they were quite inadequate
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in others and it is a matter of regret that it has not been possible to provide information in the detail or with the certainty that is desirable, as this branch is not geared to provide this service.
Supply of plans and planning information
147. 10,000 plans and 110 tracings were supplied during the year, this represented an increase of over 50% compared with the previous year. As well as maintaining close liaison with the New Territories Administration and with other interested departments and sub-depart- ments, the Planning Division gave advice in respect of 319 applications for the purchase of land, 97 of these being in respect of land in the New Territories. The coverage of land use and constructional surveys was extended and existing surveys brought up to date as required.
Selection of sites for Government and Community projects
148. The Planning Division continued to be much concerned with the selection of sites for Government and Community projects, par- ticularly resettlement and other low cost housing estates, for schools, clinics, community centres, post offices, telephone exchanges, fire stations, playgrounds and open spaces, etc. Investigations were carried out and reports prepared on the location of future multi-storey and ground level car parks, the siting of additional petrol service stations, and the loading and unloading of vehicles in industrial areas. Sites for some 50 car parks and an additional 30 petrol service stations were provisionally reserved in the Urban Area, roughly equally divided between the Island and Mainland.
Main Planning Schemes dealt with during 1960-61
149. Hong Kong Island
(1) Town Planning Ordinance
Central Areas of Victoria-Predominant Land Use and Road Frame-
work Plans adopted.
(2) Departmental Plans
(a) Approved
Repulse Bay-Layout Plan
Peak Road/Magazine Gap-Layout Plan Tai Hang Road/Mt. Butler-Layout Plan
Victoria Road/Mt. Davis-Layout Plan
(b) Circulated and under consideration
Kennedy Town-Outline_Development Plan
Pok Fu Lam Road/Belchers Street-School sites Layout Plan Wan Chai--Outline Development Plan
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Morrison Hill-Layout Plan
Wan Chai and Causeway Bay-Main Road framework Plans North Point-Revised Outline Development Plan Quarry Bay-Outline Development Plan
Shau Kei Wan-Revised Outline Development Plan Chai Wan-Revised Outline Development Plan Stanley and District-Outline Development Plan Beach Road/Island Road Repulse Bay-Layout Plan Black's Link/Deep Water Bay Road-Layout Plan
150. Kowloon and New Kowloon
(1) Town Planning Ordinance
(a) Kowloon Planning Areas 8 and 11, Kowloon_City/Diamond Hill -Outline Development Plan approved by the Governor in Council. (b) Kowloon Planning Area No. 2 Yau Ma Tei and Kowloon Plan- ning Area No. 9 Hung Hom-amended plans approved by Governor in Council.
(c) Kowloon Planning Area No. 1 Tsim Sha Tsui-Draft Outline
Development Plan in first stages of preparation.
(2) Departmental Plans
(a) Approved
San Po Kong Commercial Centre-Layout Plan Kwun Tong-Revised Outline Development Plan Kwun Tong Commercial Centre-Layout Plan Kwun Tong Housing Zone III-Layout Plan
(b) Circulated and under consideration
Yau Ma Tei Civic Centre--Layout Plan
Wing Hong Street, Cheung Sha Wan-Layout Plan
Lai Chi Kok Recreation Area-Layout Plan
Tat Chee Avenue--Layout Plan
Prince Edward Road, Kowloon City-Layout Plan
151. New Territories (West)
(1) Town Planning Ordinance
Tsuen Wan/Kwai Chung/Tsing Yi-Draft Outline Development Plan
-provisionally approved by the Town Planning Board.
(2) Departmental Plans
(a) Approved
Tsuen Wan Industrial Zone VI (Kwai Chung)---Layout Plan Tsing Lung Tau-Outline Development Plan
(b) Circulated and under consideration
Sham Tseng-Outline Development Plan
Castle Peak-Outline Development Plan Yuen Long-Outline Development Plan Tsing Yi-Outline Development Plan Kwai Chung--Outline Development Plan Tsuen Wan/Kwan Mun Hau-Layout Plan Tsuen Wan, Commercial Centre-Layout Plan Tsuen Wan, Housing Zone IIIA-Layout Plan
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152. New Territories (East)
(1) Town Planning Ordinance
Sha Tin and District-Draft Outline Development Plan adopted by the Board and awaitng final approval of the Board to publish under Section 5 of the Town Planning Ordinance.
(2) Departmental Plans
(a) Completed and awaiting approval
Tai Po Industrial Zone 1 (Part)-Layout Plan Tai Po Commercial Centre (Part)-Layout Plan (b) In preparation
Tai Po Outline Development Plan Junk _Bay-Outline Development Plan Sha Tin-Central Zone Layout Plan
SURVEY DIVISION
Revenue Survey
153. Setting out surveys in connexion with development showed a five-fold increase during the year over the average for the years 1951-54. 154. 733 new lots were set out compared with 443 the previous year. 9 miles of building lines for 249 lots were checked compared with 8 miles for 214 lots in the previous year.
155. The efforts made in the past three years to reduce the arrears of surveys for Crown Leases, reflected in the relatively small amount of work that became necessary for this type of survey.
156. Details of 128 lots were sent to the Registrar General for the issue of Crown Leases. 129 surrender plans made covering a total of 456 acres. 386 boundary stones were fixed for 117 lots and the boundaries of 13 lots were re-established.
Triangulation and Traversing
157. 26 new triangulation stations were established and the establish- ment of 1,247 permanent survey marks involved 70 miles of traversing.
Levelling
158. 16 miles of precise levelling established 90 bench marks; in addition 10 miles of levels were carried from Hong Kong to Lantau via Green Island, Kau Yi Chau, Chau Kung and Hei Ling Chau to establish a value for a Tide Gauge. 73 miles of ordinary levelling facilitated the provision of spot heights on the 1/600 survey sheets.
159. Computations from the recordings of the automatic tide gauge at North Point showed mean sea level for the year to be 4.01 feet above Principal Datum.
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Revision
160. 2,938 acres or approximately 44 square miles were surveyed for the large scale 1/600 survey of Hong Kong and Kowloon, involving 181 miles of detail traverse, bringing the total number of sheets available in this series to 174 (96 for Hong Kong and 78 for Kowloon). The survey for the second Revision of 10 sheets of the Central District was completed.
Topographical
161. Contour surveys were made covering 1,068 acres for town plan- ning and development schemes.
162. These surveys were plotted at:
Miscellaneous
Scale 1/600 Scale 1/1200 Scale 1/2400
229 acres 10′ Vertical Interval 810 acres 10′ Vertical Interval
29 acres 20′ Vertical Interval
163. Surveyors attended court on 19 occasions to give evidence and prepared 23 surveys covering 216 acres for Police cases. 7 miles of new road line were set out.
New Territories Cadastral Survey
164. The three sections of the Survey Team all made good progress during the year.
165. The section operating from Kowloon completed surveys in Cheung Chau and Peng Chau Islands and then continued along the Clear Water Bay Road Peninsula.
166. On completion of the surveys along the main road and environs from the New Kowloon boundary to Tai Po, the camp at Sha Tin was moved to a new site at Fanling, and surveying started on the area from Tai Po to Fanling and Sheung Shui. Surveying of the area from Tsuen Wan through Castle Peak to Yuen Long approached completion.
167. The three sections carried out 34 miles of control traverse to establish 607 permanent points, a further 160 points were fixed by resection and intersection. In addition 10.2 square miles of detail survey were completed.
Drawing Office
168. Production of photographs and prints of all types again showed a large increase over previous years.
169. Preparation of plans included 83 sale plans; 1.794 sets of plans for proposed sales, grants and regrants were prepared together with 60
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sets of lease plans, 83 sets of surrender plans and 3,896 sets of plans for permits.
170. The photographic and reproduction section produced over 100,000 prints by copycat, ammonia, deltaline, etc.; the section also took 4,000 photographs and printed 20,000 photoprints.
171. Sales of survey sheets and plans realized $8,708.
172. The plans of the Central District, the Peak and the Harbour Map were revised, redrawn, and reproduced in colour, and a map of the Colony at a scale of 1/100,000 was drawn and printed in 8 colours.
DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Chief Engineer (Acting),
Mr. F. R. Whitehead, B.Sc. (Hons.), A.M.I.C.E.
GENERAL
173. The creation of a post of Chief Engineer and other staff increases brought the total authorized establishment to 104.
174. The work of this office falls into two main categories: planning and investigation of major development schemes and the formation of undeveloped areas to provide sites for housing, industry and community purposes.
PLANNING AND INVESTIGATIONS
175. Following the issue of a revised feasibility report on Waterloo Road Hill setting down firm proposals for developing this barren, eroded hill into sites for hotels, high class residences and schools, the prepara- tion of contract documents commenced for the first of the proposed three stages. This first stage will produce about 209,000 square feet of saleable land.
176. Work continued on the specialist contract let the previous year for subsoil investigations by penetration boring. Details of the bores which totalled nearly 28,000 feet in depth are as follows:
No. of Total depth Bores
Location
in feet
Ho Man Tin
194
8,126
Lai Chi Kok/O Pui Shan
153
6,603
Tai Po Road/Castle Peak Road Link Kwun Tong
38
1,263
93
4,362
Kwan Mun Hau and Ho Pui Village Resite
Areas, Tsuen Wan
91
3,541
Area No. 1, Kowloon Foothills Road
90
4,000
659
27,895
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177. The information gained from these investigations proved in- valuable in the preparation of plans for the various schemes and prompted the decision to let a similar contract for site investigations elsewhere in the Colony. This 12-month contract, awarded in March, covered investigations by three methods, namely, hand excavated well holes, percussion bores and penetration bores or probes.
178. When it became apparent, during the course of investigations in the Lai Chi Kok and O Pui Shan areas, that development on the scale originally envisaged could not be carried out economically, new and more modest plans were prepared. The alignment of the projected road through the area to link Tai Po Road with Castle Peak Road had also to be reconsidered to avoid excessively steep gradients and a difficult crossing of Butterfly Valley. The new proposals provided for a re-alignment to the north of, and parallel to, Wing Hong Street.
179. In January a fire devastated a squatter area in Valley Road, Hung Hom rendering some 10,000 people homeless. Immediately after- wards work commenced on the formation of access roads and the prepa- ration of a scheme to develop the area for Low Cost Housing. Preparation of tentative plans for other Low Cost Housing sites included schemes for Ngok Yue Shan and Hang Mei at Kwun Tong.
180. Plans were prepared for the formation of an area at Tsuen Wan to accommodate the Kwan Mun Hau and Ho Pui villagers who are at present occupying land scheduled for reclamation. Other plans prepared included proposals to develop further areas at Kwun Tong to provide additional filling material for 96 acres of reclamation.
Kwun Tong
FORMATION WORKS
181. The contract for the terracing of Ngau Chai Ridge for housing sites progressed rapidly. The dumping in the reclamation area of surplus material from this hill, together with spoil from other Government and private works in the Kowloon area, provided an additional 48 acres of land, bringing the total area reclaimed at the end of the year to 155
acres.
182. Contract work advanced on the formation of Hip Wo Street to revised lines and levels. Other contract work commenced in February for the reclamation of a portion of seabed in front of Ngau Tau Kok Village to provide land for the remaining section of the new 120 feet
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wide Kwun Tong Road, filling material being obtained from site forma- tion at Ngok Yue Shan.
183. In connexion with an investigation into the safety of wells sunk in the area previously used as a refuse dump, a small-bore well was sunk to a depth of 100 feet on a site reserved for a resettlement flatted factory. Throughout the sinking of the well the Government Chemist carried out tests to determine the presence of dangerous gases.
184. Construction of a new 200 yards small arms range at Smugglers Ridge provided a replacement for the Police 25 yards range absorbed by the Military Hospital.
Kowloon
185. Work continued on the formation of the new military hospital site at King's Park to replace the existing hospital in Bowen Road; the project requires the construction of over 1,500 feet of walling and the excavation of more than 600,000 cubic yards of earth. Some delay to the work resulted from a decision to make major changes in the layout and levels of the site in order to provide a much greater area for playing fields in exchange for the 10 acres of military sports grounds in Boundary Street.
186. The reinforced concrete portal over the Kowloon-Canton Rail- way to support the extension of Nairn Road to Gascoigne Road reached an advanced stage of completion.
SURVEYS
187. These included:
(1) the provision of horizontal and vertical control for all Development
Office projects;
(2) detailed and contour surveys of sites for planning purposes:
(3) the location on the ground of alignments and points for preliminary
site investigations;
(4) measurement surveys to provide data for the calculation of quantities
for interim and final payments;
(5) the establishment on sites of horizontal and vertical construction lines
and points indicative of formation levels and slopes.
WORK UNDERTAKEN BY CONSULTANTS
188. Messrs. Scott and Wilson, Kirkpatrick and Partners received their brief for Kwai Chung (Gin Drinker's Bay) Reclamation Scheme in November and in January two contracts were awarded, one for land and the other for marine investigations.
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DRAINAGE OFFICE
Chief Engineer, (Acting),
T. K. Hum, M.Eng. (McGill), A.M.I.C.E., M.E.I.C. (Canada). Assistant Chief Engineer, (Acting),
F. E. SHORT, A.M.I.C.E.
GENERAL
189. The rainstorm of 6th May, 1960, which proved to be the heaviest ever recorded in the Colony with 10 inches of rainfall in 24 hours, caused extensive flooding in the New Territories particularly in the Yuen Long area, resulting in loss of life and heavy damage to property. The flooding was investigated and a report prepared with recommendations for a programme to control future flooding. In view of the expense involved, implementation of this programme will be carried out in stages over a number of years.
SEWERS AND STORMWATER DRAINS
190. The following table shows works carried out during the year.
Kowloon &
Island
New Kowloon
New Territories
Total
New drains laid (length in feet)
37,746
112,717
43,971
194,434
Defective drains replaced
(length in feet)
7,475
7,836
660
15,971
Connexions provided (Nos.)
Chokes cleared
631 5,095
1,129
402
2,162
5,764
274
11,133
191. The growth of development projects accounted for a substantial increase in the volume of new drainage works and for the first time work undertaken in the New Territories exceeded that on Hong Kong Island.
RESETTLEMENT (DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL) and housING DEVELOPMENT
192. In addition to stormwater drains and sewers, the Drainage Office undertook the construction of roads for the Kwun Tong, Tung Tau, Wang Tau Hom, Wong Tai Sin Resettlement Estates in Kowloon and the Tai Wo Hau Estate in Tsuen Wan.
193. Drainage works for the So Uk Housing Estate continued and the construction of the main sewers and stormwater culverts commenced for the Housing Authority's Choi Hung Chuen Estate and for Govern- ment's Low Cost Housing Estate at Kwun Tong.
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NULLAH DECKING AND RECONSTRUCTION
194. To effect a variety of improvements a number of old nullahs were decked. These included Stone Nullah, in order to eliminate offen- sive odours; Quarry Bay Nullah, to permit private development to proceed; and Watson Road and Mong Kok Nullahs, to improve traffic conditions.
195. Work commenced on the reconstruction of large culverts in Jupiter Street, in the Government Stores at North Point and in Chatham Road, in order to remedy defects and to increase capacity.
DISPOSAL WORKS, INTERCEPTION SEWERS AND SCREENING PLANT
196. The eastern portion of the 66" diameter Kwun Tong Inter- cepting Sewer from the boundary of the R.A.F. station to Ngau Tau Kok Village was completed and work continued on the western portion to provide connexions for the Choi Hung Chuen Housing Estate.
197. Extension of intercepting sewers continued along King's Road and Java Road for the North Point Sewerage Scheme, and along Gascoigne Road for the South Kowloon Sewerage Scheme.
198. Contract drawings for part of the Hong Kong Central Sewerage Scheme and for an Imhoff Tank at Deep Water Bay were completed.
199. Sewerage pumping stations at Nam Cheong Street, Tai Hang Tung, Mong Kok Road and Shek Wu Hui, the screening plant at Anchor Street, and the Imhoff Tank at Repulse Bay, continued to operate satis- factorily.
PRIVATE WORKS
200. The Drainage Office undertook the examination of 1,373 private drainage proposals and gave advice on 655 Crown Lands sales sites.
ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE
Chief Electrical & Mechanical Engineer,
D. W. Walker, B.Sc. (Eng.), M.I.Mech.E., A.M.I.E.E.
GENERAL
201. The staff of this sub-department, numbering 1,663, is respon- sible, with a few exceptions, for all electrical, mechanical, automobile and air-conditioning work undertaken by Government.
202. Temporary accommodation was provided in buildings in the old Naval Dockyard for the Electrical and Air-Conditioning staff, as the
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old premises in Johnston Road were due for demolition. Certain staff from Caroline Hill also moved into the Naval Dockyard accommoda- tion.
TRANSPORT AND VEHICLE SECTIONS
203. The Transport Section, is responsible for operating the Govern- ment Transport Pool of 161 vehicles and it carried out 41,000 details, and tested 487 applicants for posts as motor drivers of whom 334 were engaged.
204. 930 reports were prepared after investigation of accidents in- volving Government vehicles.
205. With the addition of 177 new vehicles, the number in service totalled 1,420, comprising 331 motor cycles, 519 cars and light utility vans and 570 heavy load-carrying and special purpose vehicles. 80 vehicles which reached the end of their economical life were withdrawn from service and arrangements made for their disposal in accordance with the recommendations of Boards of Survey.
206. Special all-metal motor vehicle bodies, which were designed and constructed included:
(1) 12 ambulances for the Fire Services Department equipped with stretcher gear, full medical facilities and running water. These were a modified design of the 1959 pattern ambulances which incorporate de Dion rear axles and improved suspension to provide a low centre of gravity with extremely stable cornering and smooth riding charac- teristics. The latest ambulances incorporate more headroom to facilitate loading and attention to patients and improved ventilation.
(2) One light ambulance for the Medical Department equipped with double stretcher gear for short-distance inter-hospital movement of patients.
(3) Three photographic vans for the Registration of Persons Office, each of which is fully equipped for the registration and photographing of the public.
207. Motor vehicles built to standard all-metal body designs and constructed on commercial chassis included one passenger bus, two lorries, eleven 15-cwt. pick-up trucks, a dog-control van for the Agricul- ture and Forestry Department, and a light clothing van and two cemetery vans for the Urban Services Department.
208. 315 street sweeping hand-carts were built for the Urban Services Department and the Resettlement Department. Six aluminium alloy carts, based on a new design, were built for trial purposes.
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MECHANICAL WORKSHOPS SECTION
209. The number of orders completed in the Workshops again rose and the total of 48,443 represented an increase of nearly 12 per cent over the previous year.
210. The installation by the Workshops Section of 97 more parking meters in the Central District of Victoria brought the number installed and under regular maintenance and servicing to 293.
MECHANICAL PLANT SECTION
211. This section maintains most of Government's engineering plant, sewage pumping and screening units, swimming pool filtration plants, diesel generating sets, water pumping sets, technical machinery and equipment, etc. Two new 25 K.W. diesel generators and 11 additional sets of dental equipment in clinics were installed.
STEAM SECTION
212. The rapidly increasing number of steam installations necessitat- ed the formation of independent sections operating from the Hong Kong and Kowloon Workshops to install, and thereafter maintain, new plant.
213. The Kowloon section installed a complete steam plant at the new Castle Peak Hospital, which included two fully automatic oil-fired boilers each of 860 lbs. per hour rating, calorifiers, rice boilers, steam oven, laundry and sterilizing equipment.
214. Installation of the steam plant in the kitchen of the new Kowloon Hospital neared completion, and at the Tsan Yuk Hospital two steam boilers were relocated in a new boiler house while maintain- ing a continuous supply of steam and hot water.
AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION SECTION
215. Air Conditioning installations completed under contract during the year had a total capacity of 323 tons of refrigeration; work continued on additional projects equivalent to 900 tons of refrigeration, the largest unit being in the City Hall with a rating of 630 tons.
216. In addition, designs and drawings were completed for numerous major and minor installations of a total capacity of 515 tons of refrigera- tion, whilst design work commenced on projects for a further 3,300 tons.
217. Private architects engaged on Government projects continued to call on this office for the design of air-conditioning plants, for their
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specification and further supervision of their installation. In addition to the completion of three such installations, work advanced on three others with a capacity of 879 tons, the largest units being in the Cause- way Bay Magistracy (506 tons capacity) and in the North Kowloon Magistracy (308 tons capacity). Projects in the design stage included six items with a total capacity of 562 tons of refrigeration.
218. The quantity of new air-conditioning and refrigerating plant and equipment in use during the year, with comparative figures for the last three years, is as follows:
Air-Conditioning Plants
1958-59 61 totalling 1,100 tons of refrigeration
1959-60 69 totalling 1,515 tons of refrigeration
1960-61 82 totalling 2,597 tons of refrigeration
Room Air Coolers
Refrigerators
Cold Stores & Mortuaries
301
1,714
12
467
1,883
16
652
2,230
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Eight major plants are under the control of a full time operating staff who carried out all maintenance and repair work. All other plant and equipment is maintained and repaired by staff from thte Workshops who paid 11,949 maintenance visits and answered 1,365 fault calls during the year.
219. In addition to 640 minor repairs and overhauls and 14 major ones, 15 minor air-conditioning units and 347 new refrigerators were installed. The transfer of the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Work- shops into temporary accommodation in the old Naval Dockyard buildings from the old over-crowded Johnston Road site helped con- siderably, but the lack of a sub-workshop and a repair depot in Kowloon necessitated the transportation across the harbour for repair of all re- frigerators and plant used in Kowloon.
ELECTRICAL SECTION
220. The Electrical Section carried out 29,484 orders compared with 18,442 in the previous year; the number of items of electrical plant, equipment and appliances maintained rose by 25 per cent to 37,506.
221. New items of equipment installed included 4 sets of fluorida- tion equipment at water filtration stations and the internal lighting and perimeter lights at four pumping stations. A considerable amount of additional work in connexion with the Airport lighting system included the installation of 8 Strobe beacons at the Lei Yue Mun Barracks, Cape Collinson and Green Island. Two 900 H.P. 6.6 K.V. pump motors,
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believed to be the largest in the Colony, were commissioned at the Muk Wu Pumping Station.
222. The installation of additional traffic aids included 2 sets of vehicle actuated control signals, 150 illuminated bollards, 25 Belisha beacons, 10 pagodas (for point-duty policemen), 4 winker beacons, 9 illuminated 'Cross Here' signs and 8 sets of duplicate signals for existing traffic control systems.
223. Work put out to contract included the installation of 24 pas- senger lifts, one cargo lift, one bed-passenger lift, and the modernization of the cargo/passenger lift in the Central Market.
224. This office took over responsibility for the supervision and enforcement of the requirements of the Lifts & Escalators (Safety) Ordinance, 1960, which came into force on 1st February, 1961.
PORT WORKS OFFICE
Chief Engineer,
F. A. Fisher, B.Sc., LL.B., A.m.i.C.E. Assistant Chief Engineer,
H. D. STEAD, M.Sc. (Lond.), D.I.C., A.M.I.C.E.
GENERAL
225. The main function of the Port Works Office continued to be the provision of coastal reclamations, seawalls and piers. Other activities included dredging, site investigations and surveys for proposed structures, and the testing of building materials and foundation soils.
226. Repairs to damage caused by Typhoon 'Mary' in June added to the routine maintenance of existing marine structures and the number of minor works undertaken.
RECLAMATIONS AND SEAWALLS
Hung Hom Reclamation
227. A contract for the construction of a seawall at the southern end of the Hung Hom reclamation commenced in August 1960. Incorporated in it was an underground pumping station to supply salt water for the air conditioning plant and flushing system of the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The area reclaimed by the end of the year was used for the assembly of 16 miles of lined and coated 30′′ steel pipes welded into 81 feet lengths for the Shek Pik water supply submarine pipeline.
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Kwun Tong Reclamation
228. Three contracts for site formation, mentioned in the previous report, were completed in September, and as a result 16 acres of newly reclaimed land were provided for industrial development and 27 acres of formed land became available in the terraced foothills for workers' housing.
229. The formation of sites for a divisional police station and resettle- ment staff quarters, begun at the end of last financial year, was com- pleted in December.
Cheung Sha Wan Reclamation
230. With the re-opening of this reclamation, which had been closed since October 1958, the dumping of 134,000 cubic yards of earth and building debris provided a further 157,000 square feet of reclaimed land.
Silver Mine Bay Reclamation
231. This began to receive excavated material from the new service reservoir site near Silver Mine Bay and a contract was let to construct a seawall to retain this reclamation and to provide landing facilities to replace the existing pier.
Reclamation at Naval Dockyard and Gloucester Road
232. The construction of approximately 1,000 feet of seawall and a reclamation of 3.5 acres progressed satisfactorily. Filling by public dumping began in September and by the end of the year the area for the new 120 feet wide waterfront road had been reclaimed. An underground salt water pumphouse incorporated into the seawall was put into use in early February.
Latrines at Kat O and Tap Mun
233. With the formation of sites by reclamation, these latrines were constructed and put into use.
Tung Chung Pier
PIERS
234. The pier structure, consisting of a 30 feet by 80 feet reinforced concrete pier head supported on concrete caissons and connected to a solid causeway 130 feet in length by 12 feet wide catwalk, was com- pleted in September. There still remained some dredging to be carried out in the approach channel.
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Ma Wan Pier
235. Completion of this reinforced concrete ferry pier and its approach mole two months ahead of schedule permitted early use by the public and the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company.
MAINTENANCE AND DREDGING
236. Maintenance carried out under an annual contract to a number of Government piers and seawalls consisted mainly of repairs to fenders, decking, landing steps and hand rails.
237. The two departmental dredgers, operating on maintenance work, removed a total of 154,836 cubic yards and dredged out an area in the Tsing Yi typhoon shelter to permit entry by deep draft boats.
238. The Port Works divers carried out underwater inspections of Government and private construction works, piers, submarine telephone cables and pipelines and, including the removal of underwater rocks. east of Stonecutters Island by blasting, spent a total of 242 hours under-
water.
MINOR WORKS
239. Minor works and miscellaneous duties included:
(1) The checking of calculations and drawings submitted by private
architects for various marine structures.
(2) Repainting of beacons at Lei Yue Mun, Tai Kok Tsui, Stonecutters Island, Adamaster Rock, Rambler Channel, Fan Lau (Lantau Island), Bush Reef and Ma Wan; Aga lights at Causeway Bay and Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelters and the leading mark on Po Toi Island.
(3) Construction of sixteen 10-ton concrete mooring blocks for the Marine
Department.
(4) Dredging by contract of 86,823 cubic yards in the Yau Ma Tei typhoon
shelter and Causeway Bay Canal.
(5) Construction of a breakwater at Tai Long Wan (Lantau Island). (6) Construction of a suction chamber for a temporary salt water pumping
station at Jordan Valley.
(7) Construction of concrete dolphins and the regrading of a landing ramp
at Lei Yue Mun for the Military Authorities.
(8) Construction of a set of landing steps at Cherry Street, Tai Kok Tsui. (9) Construction of a salt water pumphouse for the air conditioning of
the Causeway Bay Magistracy.
(10) Repair of damage caused by Typhoon 'Mary' on 9th June, 1960, the
main items being:
(a) Kellett Island Causeway.
(b) Kowloon camber seawall and breakwater.
(c) Yau Ma Tei and Causeway Bay typhoon shelter breakwaters. (d) Tai O Pier and Causeway.
(e) Seawall at K.M.L. 33.
(f) Cheung Chau seawall and public pier.
(g) Silver Mine Bay pier and causeway.
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SITE INVESTIGATION AND SURVEY
Boring
240. The marine and land boring units carried out the following investigations:
(1) Marine Boring
116 boreholes totalling 2,653 feet were sunk at Yung Shue Wan, Sai Kung, Silver Mine Bay, Tathong Point, Shek Kwu Chau, Central District, North Point, Jordan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui and Kwun Tong.
The maintenance contractor was called upon to sink bores during a period when the departmental boring barge was under overhaul. 23 bores completed at Sham Chung, Lai Chi Chong, Ping Chau (Mirs Bay) and High Island amounted in all to 388 feet.
Vane tests were carried out in connexion with site investigations and the design of foundations for breakwaters at Aberdeen.
(2) Sand Survey
A survey of the Colony's sand resources by the Sand Monopoly contractor commenced in October 1960. By the end of the year deposits totalling 2,908,000 cubic yards had been located at Ma Wan, Joss House Bay, Tung Wan and Tong Fuk Miu Wan.
(3) Land Boring
Surveys
69 boreholes totalling 1,336 feet were sunk at sites on Smugglers Ridge, Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, Ap Lei Chau, Sai Kung, Stanley Beach, Lam Tong Island, Kwun Tong, Kowloon Tong and Pok Fu Lam Road,
241. The following surveys were carried out:
(1) Progress surveys in connexion with Tsuen Wan Zone 1, Cheung Chau ferry pier and seawall, Kwun Tong site formation and seawall, Tung Chung pier, Ma Wan pier, causeway to Kellett Island, Hung Hom reclamation, Naval Dockyard reclamation and Silver Mine Bay sea- wall.
(2) Surveys for proposed reclamations and breakwaters at Aberdeen, Central Reclamation, Stanley and the area off K.M.L. 111, Jordan Road.
(3) Surveys for the siting of piers at Tsim Bei Tsui, Nam Sang Wai, Shek Kwu Chau, Pui O, Lam Tong Island, Island House (Tai Po), Ting Kok and Po Sam Pai (Plover Cove), Sha Tau Kok and Shau Kei Wan. (4) Surveys, with details of construction, of Victoria Permanent Pier No.
12, a pier at Tai Kok Tsui and the Kowloon coaling camber.
(5) Tide level observations in Tolo Harbour.
(6) Current measurements in Rambler Channel and off Lai Chi Kok. (7) Soundings and prickings at Hei Ling Chau, Tai Long Wan, test trench near Chau Kung Island, Tai Lam Chung, So Kwun Wat, Fat Tong Mun, Tsing Yi typhoon shelter, Tap Mun, Kat O, North Point, Datum
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Rock, Ngau Tau Kok, Whampoa Docks, Ap Lei Chau, Quarry Bay. To Kwa Wan and Royal Naval Basin North Arm.
(8) Sounding surveys before and after dredging at all nullah outfalls
inside the harbour.
(9) Surveys of foreshore and high water mark at Sham Tseng, Tsing Yi, Aberdeen, Staunton Creek, Ngau Chi Wan and near Rennie's Mill Village, in connexion with the gazetting of reclamations.
(10) Progress surveys on public spoil dumps at Hung Hom, Cheung Sha Wan, Kwun Tong and Sandy Bay, and the Gin Drinker's Bay city refuse dump.
(11) Setting out works for marine bores at Central Reclamation, Lai Chi Chong, Sham Chung, Ping Chau (Mirs Bay), High Island, Silver Mine Bay, Aberdeen, North Point and Lai Chi Kok.
(12) Echo sounding surveys at Waglan Island and Lamma Patch to inves-
tigate underwater obstructions.
MATERIALS TESTING LABORATORY
242. Tests on building and engineering materials showed a consider- able increase, both in number and scope. The number of tests carried out totalled 19,700 compared with 13,300 during the previous year.
Details are as follows:
No. of
Tests
(1) Concrete: compressive and flexural strength and chemical
analysis
9,686
(2) Cement: physical properties
636
(3) Aggregates: physical properties and purity
2,684
(4) Metals: steel plates and bars for tensile strength and other tests (5) Bitumen and bituminous mixtures
2,067
1,127
(6) Soils: classification, gradation, compaction, etc.
3,362
138
!
(7) Miscellaneous: including strength and other physical tests on hollow tiles, floor tiles, precast blocks, bricks, woodwool boards and plywood, and the calibration of pressure gauges
243. Of these, 920 were on behalf of private architects, contractors and building material suppliers.
244. Measurement of the temperature changes in experimental road slabs continued, but as the winter tended to be mild it will be necessary to continue these to gather more information before any conclusions can be reached.
245. The acquisition of additional equipment increased the capacity of the Laboratory for triaxial compression and California Bearing Ratio tests and the analysis of bituminous materials. New apparatus was installed for testing the hydraulic strength of pipes, the workability of lime plaster and the impact value of aggregates.
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!
Signing of agreement for the supply of water from Shum Chun Reservoir Under the agreement with the People's Committee of Po On County of China a pipeline was constructed and up to the end of the year 2,309 million gallons of water had been received from the Shum Chun Reservoir in China. [paras. 299, 347-349]
Pipeline from Shum Chun Reservoir
The pipeline constructed by the People's Committee of Po On County of China can be seen on the far side of the river, which marks the border. The foreground, shows the river crossing for the pipeline, being carried out by Public Works Department. [para. 347]
Harcourt Road
With a total width of 120 feet. this new road substantially relieved traffic bottle-necks in Queen's Road. [para. 252] In the left foreground can be the new concert hall prior
to eractioJ
Neen
ק - -
ROADS OFFICE
WORKS SECTION
Chief Engineer (Acting),
W. T. KNIGHT, A.M.I.C.E., A.M.I.Mun.E., M.Inst.Q.
Assistant Chief Engineers,
B. W. James, B.Sc. (Eng.), A.M.I.C.E.
W. C. BELL, A.M.I.C.E.
GENERAL
246. The severe rainstorms in May and Typhoon 'Mary' in June caused extensive damage to the Colony's roads, interrupted new con- struction and delayed re-surfacing. Several bridges in the New Territories sustained severe scouring to the abutments and piers and damage to wing-walls.
247. In addition to 9 miles of new construction, works included the reconstruction of 18 miles, the surfacing or resurfacing in bituminous carpet of 70 miles and the surface dressing of 25 miles of existing roads.
248. One feature of reconstruction work was the provision, wherever practicable, of central dividing strips with ornamental fencing to prevent indiscriminate 'U' turns and 'jay' walking. The policy continued of providing, whenever possible, for heavier pavements, better drainage, and for improved widths, alignments and superelevation of carriageways.
249. The Barber-Greene Paver-Finisher, which had arrived not long before the beginning of the year, had a notable effect upon the output and quality of resurfacing with bituminous carpets. This was reflected not only in the increased mileage of roads so treated, but in the increased demand for bituminous mixes from the quarries.
250. The following expenditure was incurred:
(1) New Roads
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(2) Reconstruction & Improvements
(3) Maintenance
(4) Storm Damage ...
$12,374,000
11,205,000
5,278,000
2,148,000
$31,005,000
Total expenditure was about $2 million less than for the previous year due largely to less storm damage, the cost of which was charged to (1) and (2) above in respect of work in progress, while minor repairs were included in (3), the figure against (4) covering only the more exceptional items.
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251. The following are details of the work of the various sections of the office, divided partly on a regional and partly on a functional basis.
CITY ROADS, VICTORIA
252. Traffic bottle-necks in Queen's Road, Central, were substantially relieved when Connaught Road was linked with Gloucester Road by a new 120 feet wide road through the old Naval Dockyard area. This road is about half a mile in length with two 33-foot carriageways separated by a central dividing strip, a 20-foot service road, and one 14-foot footpath. Other major works included the construction of a new carpark and children's playground between Macdonnell Road and Kennedy Road and improvements in the width and alignment of Kennedy Road near Monmouth Path.
253. A slip road built at the junction of Garden Road and Queen's Road, Central, improved traffic conditions.
254. Traffic islands, bollards and pedestrian crossings were installed at the junctions of Garden Road with Lower Albert Road, Garden Road with Macdonnell Road and Pedder Street with Queen's Road, Central.
255. Yee Wo Street, Great George Street, Sugar Street, Wood Road and part of Stubbs Road, were reconstructed in concrete to reduce future maintenance, the opportunity being taken whenever possible to improve alignment and superelevation.
256. Several private streets in very poor condition, including Shelter Street, Fuk Kwan Avenue and Kwan Yick Street, were rebuilt to an acceptable standard at the owners' expense.
257. Two bus bays in Bonham Road, two in Queen's Road, East, and one in Stubbs Road near Shiu Fai Terrace were constructed in
concrete.
ISLAND ROAD, OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS
258. The surface dressing of the carriageways was carried out to sections of Shek O Road, Big Wave Bay Road, Island Road (Chai Wan) and Stubbs Road. Car parks were constructed for the convenience of sightseers at Tai Tam Reservoir Road, Island Road and Stubbs Road and additional car parking areas were provided at Deep Water Bay for the benefit of bathers.
259. Other work included the first carriageway of the Chai Wan access road and the improvement of the Barker/Stubbs Road junction.
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KOWLOON ROADS
260. Deterioration of the carriageways necessitated the resurfacing of Argyle Street, Choi Hung Road, Salisbury Road, Chatham Road, Jordan Road and parts of Castle Peak Road.
261. The reconstruction in concrete of Stage I of Nathan Road approached completion and similar work was carried out in Prince Edward Road adjacent to the Airport, in Nam Cheong Street, in parts of Waterloo Road and in Boundary Street.
262. Major works in progress included the construction of Kwun Tong Road Stage III, the extension of Tong Mi Road, and the widening and reconstruction of Cherry Street, Yau Ma Tei.
263. Work on the one mile length of dual concrete carriageways for Castle Peak Road from the Lai Chi Kok Hospital to Lai Chi Kok Gap approached completion.
NEW TERRITORIES ROADS
264. Improvement of communications in the New Territories con- tinued with the construction of new feeder roads. These included the first section of the Pat Heung Road system and the extension of the Ting Kok Road to Tai Mei Tuk, to provide access to the Plover Cove Water Development Project.
265. Major works completed were Stage II of the widening and realignment of Hiram's Highway (Ho Chung to Sai Kung), the recon- struction in concrete of a section of Castle Peak Road at Tsing Lung Tau Causeway, the widening of Route I (between TWSK and Route II) and the widening of Stage I of Texaco Road in Tsuen Wan.
266. Work was well advanced on the construction of the Castle Peak Road dual carriageway from Kwai Chung to Chai Wan Kok and the widening and realignment of the first four and a half miles of the South Lantau Road.
BRIDGES
267. The improvement work at Sham Tseng, Castle Peak Road, comprising two reinforced concrete bridges and some 2,200 feet of dual carriageways, was completed.
268. Work was completed on four footbridges in the remote villages of Tai Mong Tsai, To Yuen Tung, Pak Yui and Wang Chau; two reinforced concrete bridges at Beas River and Dodwell's Ridge and a steel footbridge over Wylie Road were constructed.
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269. Normal maintenance included the clearance of stream beds, the replacement of corroded steel pier and bridge members and the underpinning of scoured bridge abutments and pier foundations. Damage caused by the heavy rainstorms in May necessitated repairs to four bridges at Sek Kong, Yuen Long, Sheung Shui and Tai Po.
270. At the request and expense of the Military Authorities, seven bridges in the New Territories were strengthened and the construction of a reinforced concrete pier to support the Bailey Bridge at Tai Po commenced.
QUARRIES
271. The two quarries, operated with direct labour, produced 242,396 tons of stone from which 106,180 tons of bitumen coated stone were manufactured. The total value of these products amounted to approxi- mately $4,200,000. The Mount Butler Quarry satisfied all demands made upon it, and operated well within the capacity of the premix plant for the greater part of the year; but the Hok Yuen Quarry, in spite of producing more stone than ever before, could not meet the heavy demands of Kowloon and the New Territories.
272. The following table shows the output of the quarries over the last four years:
Bituminous Mixes (Tons) 57-58 58-59 59-60 60-61 37,303 39,957 51,184 72,392 30,899 41,248 44,120 33,788
Total Stone (Tons) Quarry
57-58 58-59 59-60 60-61
Hok Yuen 93,089 112,225 115,516 122,604 Mt. Butler 44,780 122,961 109,419 119,792
Total.. 137,869 235,186 224,935 242,396 68,202 81,205 95,304 106,180
273. The increase in the production of bituminous mixes at Hok Yuen is worthy of note. This amounted to 21,208 tons or 41% more than the previous year; this was made possible by the new plant brought into operation in December, 1959.
274. In conjunction with the consulting engineers, Messrs. Scott and Wilson, Kirkpatrick and Partners, tests and trials, designed to produce a better bituminous wearing surface for roads, were carried out, principally in connexion with the surfacing of Lung Cheung Road, Although these tests covered a wide range, the product finally selected varied only slightly from that which has been produced in bulk by the quarries for some years.
275. On a smaller scale tests of special heavy duty mixes produced promising results.
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Chai Wan Access Road
Although only one carriageway has been constructed, formation of the road has been to sufficient width to provide a second carriageway if found necessary to meet future demands. [para. 259]
Castle Peak Road, Kwai Chung
Work was completed on this, the first section of Castle Peak Road between
Tsuen Wan and Kowloon recon- structed to full dual carriageway width. [para. 266]
Beas River Bridge
The picture shows one of four reinforced concrete road bridges constructed in the New Territories during the year. [para. 268]
Junction of Lung Cheung Road and Tai Po Road
This flyover with slip roads, forms part of the work undertaken with the construction of Lung Cheung Road (formerly Kowloon Foothills Road) linking Kwun Tong and New Kowloon to Tai Po Road (Consulting Engineers: Scott & Wilson, Kirkpatrick and Partners) Beyond the flyover is the So Uk Housing Estate. [para. 277]
276. The Quarry Section continued to be responsible for the inspec- tion of private quarries and prescribed suitable conditions for their operation, and for site formation works involving blasting.
WORK UNDERTAKEN BY CONSULTANTS
277. Messrs. Scott and Wilson, Kirkpatrick and Partners undertook the provision of an aircraft parking apron at the Airport and continued construction of Lung Cheung (Kowloon Foothills) Road, which ap- proached completion by the end of the year.
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING SECTION
Chief Engineer,
J. R. WHITAKER, M.A. (Cantab.), A.M.I.C.E., A.M.I.Mun.E. Assistant Chief Engineer (Acting),
A. T. Armstrong-Wright, A.M.1.C.E.
GENERAL
278. This section, created on 1st April, 1960 to deal with traffic engineering, worked in close liaison with the Police Traffic Branch, aiming at the safe and expeditious movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
TRAFFIC AIDS
279. In addition to the general maintenance and the routine installa- tion of improved traffic signs, many obsolete steel signs in the urban areas were replaced and speed limit and derestriction signs installed throughout the Colony.
280. In conjunction with the Police Traffic Branch, several traffic light signal installations of both the vehicle actuated and pedestrian operated push-button type, were planned.
281. Much of the work of the road painting gangs included carriage- way marking to new standards and the redesignation of kerbside parking spaces from angle to parallel layout. The provision of pairs of stalls 35 feet long with a 5 feet space between each pair increased the efficiency of parallel parking
282. A large number of controlled and uncontrolled pedestrian crossings with central refuge islands were provided on the wider urban traffic routes.
283. Safety devices recommended for subsequent installation in- cluded road reflecting studs, reflector discs, pedestrian guard rails, and
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other miscellaneous items. Beam-type guide railings were installed for the first time on dangerous bends in Hong Kong Island, and at many additional locations in the New Territories.
STREET LIGHTING
284. The improvement and extension of public street lighting con. tinued with the installation of 1,143 new lamps, together with the re- placement of a number of gas and low-powered electric lamps.
285. Action was initiated on the installation of high efficiency linear sodium lighting along rural roads, and the illumination of prohibitory and mandatory signs on an experimental basis.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
286. In conjunction with other Departments, problems associated with the public transport services received consideration.
287. Advice given covered a variety of miscellaneous matters such as tram stop locations and track realignments, the location and layout of new taxi stands, and the provision of additional bus bays and passing places. Layouts were examined and others prepared for several new bus termini and ferry concourses.
INVESTIGATIONS
288. Counts of vehicle and pedestrian movements were undertaken at many road junctions in order to study proposals for improvements. Classified traffic counts continued at the rate of one location every week for some two dozen key locations with a repeat count at approxi- mately 6-monthly intervals.
289. A survey of vehicular traffic routing in the urban areas was completed and record drawings prepared. Alterations to traffic circula- tion in selected areas followed discussion and agreement with the Police Traffic Branch.
290. An economic appreciation was made of the benefits to be derived from the provision of the proposed mile-long Lion Rock road tunnel linking Kowloon and Sha Tin. This included reference to journey time studies between Sha Tin and various points in Kowloon. The first part of a 'before and after' study of the effect of opening the new road through the old Naval Dockyard was also carried out.
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291. Parking studies undertaken at several locations in the urban areas helped to determine the suitability of selected locations for the future construction of multi-storey parking garages.
PLANNING
292. The Section provided the Chairman and Secretary respectively for the Department's 'Roads Opening Co-ordinating Committee' and 'Roads Planning and Improvements Committee'.
293. Standards were prepared and adopted for use when considering the traffic engineering aspects of development schemes prepared by other sub-departments and more than eighty planning layouts were studied, the most important being the Outline Development Plan for the Central District, Hong Kong.
294. Consideration of proposals for several cinemas and petrol filling stations prompted the preparation of a set of standard requirements concerning location and layout.
DESIGN
295. Drawings were prepared showing recommended standards for kerb radii and sight lines at road intersections and for kerbside and off-street parking layouts. A revised layout for the Middle Road car park provided an increase of more than 20 per cent in the number of parking spaces.
296. The report of the Works Section (paragraph 248) refers to the extensive introduction on major urban traffic routes of central dividing strips with ornamental fencing. A feature of this work was off-setting the dividing strip on the approaches to some junctions to provide right turning lanes.
297. Meetings held with representatives of the two bus companies resulted in agreement on a more acceptable design for the bus shelters constructed in the urban areas.
298. A number of existing street widening and junction improvement schemes were considered and amended, and designs for many other major and minor road improvements of both an interim and long-term character, were prepared.
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WATERWORKS OFFICE
Deputy Director of Public Works (Water), T. O. MORGAN, B.SC., A.M.I.C.E.
Assistant Director of Public Works (Water), E. P. WILMOT-Morgan, B.Sc., M.I.C.E., A.M.I.W.E. Chief Engineer (Construction),
C. I. Wilks, a.m.i.c.e., M.I.W.E. Chief Engineer (Distribution),
A. W. P. Cox, A.M.I.C.E., A.M.I.Mun.E.
GENERAL
299. The most significant achievement of the year was the comple- tion of an agreement with the People's Committee of Po On County of China for the supply of water from their new reservoir situated about 21 miles north of the Hong Kong border near the township of Shum Chun. The agreement was signed on 15th November, 1960 and the supply of water from China began on 5th December, 1960. By the end of the year under review 2,309 million gallons of water had been received from China and this quantity was supplemented by 1,175 million gallons pumped from the River Indus into the same pipeline. The engineering aspects of this project are described in paragraphs 347-349.
General
MAINTENANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
300. With development proceeding apace, particularly the establish- ment of more resettlement and low cost housing estates, the steadily increasing demand for water necessitated considerable extensions to the distribution system.
301. At the beginning of the year the hours of supply were restricted to four a day, but the very dry winter and the lack of early summer rains made it necessary to reduce the period to three hours daily between 24th April and 6th May. However, when it was found that the change from four hours to three hours caused hardly any reduction in the daily consumption and only resulted in numerous additional complaints, the hours were increased to four a day on 7th May. After heavy rains on 8th June the supply was further increased to ten hours a day on 10th June. The rains continued until well into September, and with a satisfactory storage position at the beginning of October and the additional water from the River Indus and from China, the ten hours a day supply was maintained for the rest of the year. Over Christmas water was available from 4 p.m. on 24th December, 1960 to 11 a.m. on 27th December, 1960, and over the New Year from 4 p.m. on 31st
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A
Jordan Valley Dam for Salt Water Flushing Supply
This dam, which is 90 ft. high, will impound 54 million gallons of stream water supplemented by sea water pumped during periods of low yield. [para. 334(3)]
Ma Lau Tong (Kwun Tong) Dam for Salt Water Flushing
This scheme is similar to that at Jordan Valley but for 14 million gallons of flushing water. [para. 334(4)]
Shek Pik Water Supply Scheme
One of the aqueducts built to carry catchment water over stream beds. [para. 350】
Tại Lam Chung Catchwaters
The picture shows a short length of the many miles of catchwaters constructed to increase the indirect catchment area of the Tai Lam Chung Reservoir. [para. 332]
I
December, 1960 to 11 a.m. on 2nd January, 1961. At Chinese New Year a full supply was provided for a period of 19 days between 14th February, 1961 and 4th March, 1961, when the consumption averaged 70.13 million gallons per day, with a maximum of 91.70 million gallons on Chinese New Year's Eve.
Rainfall
SUPPLY
302. The annual rainfall recorded by the Royal Observatory was 88.92 inches, 4.18 inches more than the annual average of 84.74. The fifteen rain gauges located in the various Waterworks catchment areas showed an average rainfall of 86.48 inches. The total rainfall for the seven months, October to April, was 17.75 inches against an average = of 18.28.
Storage
303. At the beginning of the year the impounding reservoirs con- tained 3,547 million gallons of water, but by 5th May this had dropped to 2,282 million gallons, representing the minimum figure for the year and only 21.8% of total storage. Full capacity of 10,469 million gallons was, however, reached on 1st September and maintained for 18 days, with all the reservoirs over-flowing on 7 days during this period.
304. The total quantity of water consumed in the urban areas rose to 23,570.92 million gallons and in the New Territories to 883.02 million gallons, representing increases over the previous year of 1,858.59 and 163.82 million gallons, respectively. The total number of hours of supply was 4,067.5 as compared with 3,703 in 1959/60, being an average of 11.1 hours a day as compared with 10.1 hours a day in 1959-60.
305. The maximum consumption of 89.86 million gallons in 1 day was 3.48 million gallons less than the previous year's recorded maximum.
Distribution
306. Improvements to the distribution system and the longer hours of supply for most of the year resulted in significantly fewer complaints, the majority of which were received, as was to be expected, during the period of severe rationing in April and May.
Water Analysis
307. The standard of purity aimed at is high: complete absence of coliform organisms in a 100 c.c. of treated water, and to maintain this standard, Waterworks personnel systematically take samples for testing by the Government Pathologist.
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308. Of 367 samples taken from service reservoirs and 1,050 samples taken from consumers, only 2% and 5% respectively produced results below the required standard. Where sub-standard samples were recorded from service reservoirs, the chlorine dosage was temporarily increased and subsequent samples proved satisfactory. The unsatisfactory tap samples included five taken from a partially treated stream supply to a resettlement area which was, after treatment, connected to the urban dis- tribution system. The causes of the remaining 33 sub-standard tap samples were all traced to defective inside services or dirty privately owned storage tanks. In such cases the owners were required to effect the necessary repairs, the services were sterilized and subsequent samples taken to prove the effectiveness of the remedial measures.
309. Samples subject to chemical analysis proved satisfactory with- out exception.
Pumping
310. The following table shows the quantity of raw and filtered water pumped in comparison with that for the previous year:
1960-61 1959-60
Increase
Raw Water million gallons
Filtered Water million gallons
Total million gallons
17,111
11,873
28.984
11,912
#
8,992
20,904
5,199
2,881
8,080
311. The 26% increase over the previous year must be largely attri- buted to the additional water available from China and the River Indus.
Waste Detection
312. The activities of the Waste Detection Section included the detection and repair of defective valves, house connexions, tracing of leaks in the distribution system, investigating high consumptions of individual consumers, and unauthorized usage of water.
313. Correction of faults resulting from tests and investigations produced a saving estimated at 15,000 gallons per hour.
Metered Services
314. The following table gives the position over the last three years:
New Meters Installed Mainland Island
Meters in
Year
Total
Service
1958-59 ...
2,950
1,692
4,642
68,601
1959-60 ...
2,267
1,073
3,340
71,941
1960-61 ..
4.874
1.107
5,981
77.922
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315. The increase in the rate of meter installation is largely attributed to the Housing Authority's Low Cost Housing Estate at So Uk where 2,899 meters were installed.
Workshops
316. Workshops staff carried out 1,846 separate items of work, which included 80 orders from other departments. This work at times overtaxed the resources of the workshops with the result that 58 orders had to be executed under contract by local firms. This compares with 36 similar local contracts let during the previous year.
317. More than half of the meters in service required attention and to limit the amount of work carried out on overhauls a large number of an entirely new type of meter was ordered. This meter requires very little maintenance due to a new design concept, many additional meters can be installed without substantial increases to workshops equipment and staff.
Distribution Mainlaying
318. Work continued on extensions to serve new development, replacement of defective pipes, enlargement of undersized mains and alterations necessitated by road reconstruction.
319. A total of 212,548 feet (40 miles) of pipes varying from 2" to 27" in diameter was laid. The materials used were chiefly galvanized steel for sub-mains up to 3′′ diameter, cast iron up to 18" diameter, and steel over 18". In addition, appreciable quantities of asbestos cement pressure piping were used, particularly for the distribution of salt water.
320. The more important mains laid during the year included the following:
Hong Kong Island
(1) Chai Wan Resettlement Area-1,900 feet of 18′′ main and the
relaying of the existing reservoir outlet in the new access road. (2) Harcourt Road (through old Naval Dockyard)-2,500 feet of new
12" distribution main.
(3) Bowen Road Service Reservoir-450 feet of new 24′′ outlet. (4) Kennedy Road-2,700 feet of 18′′ main connecting to (3) above to
improve distribution in Wan Chai.
(5) Aberdeen Access Road-1,000 feet of 24" main replacing the
existing 18" in conjunction with road reconstruction.
Kowloon and New Territories
(1) Cheung Sha Wan Road, Cheung Wah Street, Un Chau Street. Tonkin Street-7,200 feet of 18′′ main to improve distribution in Tai Kok Tsui and Sham Shui Po.
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(2) Yau Tong Road-900 feet of 18′′ main to extend the Kwun Tong
distribution system.
(3) Prince Edward Road-610 feet of 18′′ main laid at Kowloon City
Roundabout to improve distribution.
(4) Cheung Sha Wan Road and Lai Chi Kok Road~2,500 feet of new
12" main as an extension to item (1) above.
(5) Waterloo Road-2,400 feet of 10" pipe in replacement of undersized
6" pipe.
(6) Resettlement Estates-Approximately 8,000 feet of cast iron and asbestos cement fresh and salt water mains varying from 4′′ to 8′′ diameter.
(7) Tsuen Wan-10,300 feet of mains from 6" to 15" diameter.
(8) Fanling-400 feet of 8′′ and 1,900 feet of 6′′ for the new principal
feed to the area.
(9) Tai Po Kau-Tai Po Market-900 feet of 6" and 480 feet of 8′′
to complete work started last year.
Service Reservoirs
321. All service reservoirs were cleaned and sterilized, their inlet and outlet valves were tested and where necessary overhauled.
322. Fresh water service reservoirs at Tai Po Road and Kau Wah Keng in Kowloon were completed and those at King's Park and North Point were sufficiently completed for one half to be brought into com- mission while work on the remaining half proceeded.
323. The salt water service reservoir at Piper's Hill was commis- sioned.
Catchwaters
324. The usual troubles from blocked catchwaters due to landslips following heavy summer rains were experienced, but no major damage was sustained, clearance being effected in time to avoid serious loss of inflow to the reservoirs.
325. Major blockages occurred in the Tai Tam group of catchwaters. and in the Jubilee catchwaters where reconstruction of a section became necessary. Improvements carried out in 1959-60 proved their worth and undoubtedly prevented further major damage.
326. Flood diversion gates were installed on some of the new Tai Lam Chung catchwaters.
Tsuen Wan and Kwun Tong Supplies
327. To meet new development, extension of the distribution systems continued in conjunction with the formation of roads.
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Castle Peak and Yuen Long Supply
328. The filtered water supply to the Castle Peak area was further extended and a new pump installed to enable the Tai Lam Chung filters to cope with the additional demands.
329. Completion of the Lam Tei Pumping Station resulted in im- provement to the supply to Yuen Long.
Waterworks Staff Quarters
330. New quarters were provided in conjunction with the construc- tion of pumping stations at North Point, Jordan Valley and Kwun Tong. The receipt of excessively high tenders made it necessary to postpone the provision of new quarters at the Elliot Pumping Station.
Fluoridation
331. Fluoridation equipment with automatic feed control was in- stalled and put into service at thirteen separate filtration installations.
: Tai Lam Chung Scheme
NEW CONSTRUCTION
332. In addition to the completion of the southern group of catch- waters, construction of the sections comprising the northern group generally made good progress, although hampered by heavy rains.
Connecting Pipeline-Jubilee Reservoir to Tsuen Wan Filters
333. Completion of a 30" pipeline from Jubilee Reservoir to the Tsuen Wan filters permitted the use of 903 million gallons of Jubilee Reservoir water, which would have otherwise overflowed to waste.
Salt Water Flushing Schemes
334. (1) Cheung Sha Wan
This scheme included the construction of two service reservoirs, one of which (at Piper's Hill), with a capacity of 2 million gallons, was completed, while that at Tai Wo Ping, with a capacity of 3 million gallons, made rather slower progress due to excessive rock excavation.
(2) Wong Tai Sin and Lo Fu Ngam
Although the service reservoirs, with a total capacity of 7 million gallons, and pump house could have been put into use, the installation of the permanent pumps was delayed by diversion of staff to the in- stallation of the more important Muk Wu and River Indus pumping equipment.
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(3) Jordan Valley
This project consists of a 90-foot high dam to impound 54 million gallons of stream water supplemented by sea water pumped during periods of low yield. The dam construction ultimately made good progress after initial difficulties in finding a solid foundation.
(4) Kwun Tong
This scheme which is similar to that at Jordan Valley, but designed for 14 million gallons of flushing water, approached completion with only the installation of the pumping equipment being outstanding.
(5) North Point
con-
Although the 4-million-gallon high level service reservoir became available, the operation of this system is dependent upon the struction of pump houses at the new vehicular ferry pier, North Point. and on the existing fresh water service reservoir which will be converted to supply flushing water on completion of the new 5-million- gallon fresh water service reservoir on Tin Hau Temple Road.
(6) Chai Wan
With completion of the service reservoir and pump house, temporary mobile pumps were used to provide a limited supply pending the installation of the permanent pumping equipment.
Eastern and Albany Filters Conversion Scheme and Tin Hau Temple
Road Supply
335. The 1-million-gallon capacity high level service reservoir was completed and work continued on a 5-million-gallon service reservoir at the lower level, the first half being put into use on completion. Con- struction of the pumping station to supply the high level reservoir and the building of staff quarters continued satisfactorily.
Aberdeen Water Supply, Stage 1
336. Work on this project reached an advanced stage with the com- pletion of the 5-million-gallon service reservoir; the building of the 6-million-gallon a day rapid gravity filter station made good progress.
337. Quarters for the staff to operate the new filters have yet to be provided.
Western New Territories Supply, Stage II
338. Tenders were invited for the new Yuen Long filter station and a 2-million-gallon service reservoir.
Irrigation Works in the New Territories
339. Minor items of work carried out to an approved programme included the provision of irrigation channels and diversion d'ams. Rain- storm and flood damage created a considerable amount of repair work.
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340. Despite bad weather work on the major 100-million-gallon irrigation dam at Ho Pui made satisfactory progress.
341. Construction of the lower dam at Tsing Tam made good head- way, but work on the upper dam was rather slow until difficult founda- tion conditions were overcome. The two dams will impound a total of 30 million gallons on completion.
Shau Kei Wan Supply
342. To meet the needs of future development in the Shau Kei Wan area, a new service reservoir fed by a 27′′ trunk main from Eastern Filters is required. The route of the trunk main was planned and an order placed for the pipes.
Extension of Kowloon Waterworks Depot-Argyle Street
343. A new three storey block of offices to accommodate staff in- creases was completed. The design allows for the addition of a further three storeys should this prove necessary in the future.
Repairs to Pineapple Pass Dam
344. A slight but progressive movement of this dam has been taking place over many years and careful records have been kept.
345. The Consulting Engineers eventually decided that it would be advisable to take steps to prevent further movement by placing a wedge of suitably drained selected material over the whole downstream face of the dam, to provide additional weight. A toe wall was also necessary and the access road to Jubilee Reservoir skirting the foot of the dam had to be diverted slightly.
346. A contract was let, the toe wall and road diversion completed and a good start made on placing the earth wedge.
Water from China and the River Indus
347. Negotiations for a supply of water from China which had been opened towards the end of the previous year were continued and satis- factorily concluded by the signing of an Agreement at Shum Chun on 15th November, 1960, by representatives of the Po On County and the Hong Kong Government. It was agreed that:
(1) the Chinese Authorities would, for the time being, supply about 5,000
million gallons a year;
(2) the water would be delivered through a pipeline to the border and the Hong Kong Government would pay at the rate of 10 JMP (HKS.234) a thousand gallons.
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348. In accepting water from China the following problems had to be overcome :
(1) the border is a good many miles from the centre of distribution and
there is a range of hills in between;
(2) the water would have to be pumped, filtered and sterilized before it
could be distributed.
349. Fortunately there was a suitable catchwater of the Tai Lam Chung Reservoir system within 10 miles of the point of delivery at the Hong Kong/Chinese border and the filter plant could cope with an additional 15 to 20 million gallons a day during the dry season. It was therefore decided to build a pumping station close to the border and connect it by a 48" steel main to the catchwater. Pipe laying of the 10-mile length of main began from the catchwater at the end of May, and as the line crossed the River Indus an intake and second pumping station were constructed at that point, with pumping from the Indus commencing on 7th October. Meanwhile pipe laying continued to the main border station and the first water was received from the Chinese Reservoir on 5th December.
Shek Pik Scheme
350. Progress on this scheme suffered a little as a result of the heavy rains during the year, but continued to be generally satisfactory. The Shek Pik villagers were evacuated to their new homes in Tsuen Wan at the end of November.
351. With the completion of grouting of the rock at both ends of the dam cut-off, work commenced on building the main embankment; the diversion tunnel was cut through to the sea and the scour pipe laid inside and concreted in position.
352. Excavation of the 6-mile supply tunnel continued and appro- ximately 30% of the whole length was completed. Two vertical shafts sunk to the tunnel level provided additional working faces.
353. The site for the pump house at Pui O was formed and excava- tion over the site of the treatment works at Silver Mine Bay made good progress, the excavated material being deposited to form a small recla- mation in Silver Mine Bay.
354. Orders were placed for the supply of the 35 million gallons a day rapid gravity filtration plant and the 30′′ diameter steel pipes for the twin submarine pipelines between Silver Mine Bay on Lantau Island and Sandy Bay on Hong Kong Island. Together with the letting
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of a contract for laying the pipes, a start was made on the dredging of a trench in the seabed for their protection.
355. Delivery of the pipes in unprotected lengths of 27 feet com- menced.
356. A contract was let for the site formation of the balance tank and pumping station at Sandy Bay. Site excavation for the 30-million- gallon service reservoir on Mt. Davis continued, although the anticipated rate of progress was not attained.
357. Investigations of the site for the 6-million-gallon service reser- voir at Kennedy Town were completed.
358. After reaching agreement on the route to be taken by the trunk mains from Mt. Davis to Central District, approximately 9,200 feet of 24" steel main was laid in Bowen Road.
Plover Cove and Hebe Haven Integrated Scheme
359. A preliminary contract let for this scheme included:
(1) site investigation along the proposed line of the dam in Plover Cove: (2) the construction of a test mound to decide on the materials required
to form the dam embankment;
(3) boring and drilling along the proposed tunnel lines and at the sites
of the subsidiary dams;
(4) boring to decide the location of suitable materials for the construction
of the dam.
360. After encountering various difficulties and sinking many bores to much greater depths than had been expected it was finally concluded that the sites provisionally chosen for the subsidiary dams were un- satisfactory.
361. A contract was completed for the site investigation along the proposed line of the dam at Hebe Haven, but the difficulties experienced with the uncompleted first contract at Plover Cove resulted in the sub- mission of the final report being delayed.
362. It became evident that before either the Hebe Haven or Plover Cove Reservoirs could come into production, it would be possible to start work on part of the scheme and make available within three to three and a half years' time a useful addition to the water supply. Approval was therefore obtained to commence the following works estimated to cost $100 million :
(1) service reservoirs above the Kowloon Foothills Roads and a mile long
tunnel under Lion Rock;
(2) stage I of the Plover Cove treatment works, with a capacity of 60
million gallons a day;
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(3) a tunnel from the treatment works to Shing Mun and Tai Po Tau: (4) a lower Shing Mun Dam;
(5) Stage I of the pumping station at Tai Po Tau.
363. Work began on the access road to the lower Shing Mun dam, site formation for the treatment works, and site formation for the service reservoirs. Tenders were called for the Lion Rock tunnel which is to be of such finished size that it can accommodate two lanes of vehicular traffic as well as the water mains.
EXPENDITURE
364. The total expenditure by the Department under all heads in- cluding works carried out by Consultants amounted to $316,781,000. an increase of 23% over the previous year. Major public works (including Colonial Development and Welfare Schemes, World Refugee Year Schemes and Local Development Projects) accounted for some $242,348,000 of this; $34,036,000 was spent on recurrent maintenance and administrative costs; salaries and other charges amounted to $40,397,000.
365. The following comparative statement, illustrated graphically on the following page, shows expenditure on Public Works over the nine years 1952-53 to 1960-61.
Financial
Personal Emolu- ments & other
Year
charges
Recurrent Expenditure
Non-Recurrent
Total
$
$
1952-53
12,742.000
17,887,000
44,971,000
75,600.000
1953-54
16.277,000
19,629.000
39,146,000
75.052,000
1954-55
16.888.000
17,480.000
48,477,000
82,845.000
1955-56
18,646.000
18,629,000
86,215,000
123.490.000
1956-57
21,048,000
21,113,000
118,051,000
160,212,000
1957-58
22,957,000
30,563,000
121,094,000
174,614,000
1958-59
26,886,000
29,092,000
145,026.000
201,004,000
1959-60
33,702,000
39,923,000
175,768,000
249,393.000
1960-61
40.397.000
34,036,000
242,348,000 316,781,000
REVENUE
366. Revenue collected by the Department totalled $102,780,000, the principal items being premia from sales of Crown Land: $57,737,000; fees for the temporary occupation of similar land: $8,340,000; sale of water: $20.476,000; sale of crushed stone: $4,137,000, and other receipts: $12,090,000.
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450
440
450
430
440
ō 8 8 8 8 8 8
20
10 -
30
420
410
400
390
300
370
760
350
340
330
320
310
300
290
280
270
260
230
240
230
220
210
200
190
180
170
160
ISO
140
130
120
10
100
Jo
10-
OVERALL
70
GRAPHIC SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
EXPENDITURE
FROM
430
420
1952-53 TO 1960-61
410
400
200
380
370
L 360
| 380
- 340
330
320
310
300
290
260
270
260
250
A 240
230
NON-
RECURRENT
RECURRENT
EXPENDITURE
PERSONAL
• EMOLUMENTS
OTHER CHARGES
EXPENDITUR
SXPENDITURE
NON-RECURRENT RECURRENT
PERSONAL EMOLUMENT
220
210
200
190
100
for 170
100
150
#40
F30
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
JO
20
10
1952-53 1953-54 1954-55 1955-56 1956-57 1957-58 1958-59 1959-60 1960-61
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Canteens
STAFF WELFARE
367. Pending the provision of proper canteen facilities for the mechanical staff of the Caroline Hill workshops, the old office building was put into use as a dining room. Plans were prepared for another canteen in the old Naval Dockyard for staff of the electrical and air- conditioning workshops.
368. Canteen facilities are provided at the larger Roads Office and Waterworks Depots. Most of the canteens are run by committees who are members of the staff.
Sports and Recreation
369. Although the Public Works Department Recreation Club was still unable to obtain a suitable sports ground, efforts to promote activities continued, and in January, 1961, the club was registered as a society.
370. Many members of the staff took part in a variety of depart- mental and inter-departmental competitions and sporting activities. Seven-a-side miniature football probably commanded the greatest follow- ing with teams from the Waterworks, Crown Lands and Survey, and Development Offices entering competitions.
371. The Caroline Hill Football Club won the distinction of pro- motion to the First Division after their success in winning the Second Division in the previous year.
372. Keen interest was shown in several inter-departmental golf com- petitions and a new competition was introduced known as the 'Brick' Competition. The trophy for this, in the form of a suitably mounted baked clay house-brick, was won by Messrs. C. S. Barron and R. J. LYONS of the Crown Lands and Survey Office. In the face of stiff com- petition the 'Littlejohn' cup and the 'Shewan' cup were won by Mr. J. J. ROBSON and Mr. R. BECK, respectively. Sixteen members entered the lawn bowls competition for the 'Forbes' Cup, the team of Messrs. G. JEFFRIES, E. L. STRANGE, H. HUSSAIN and M. MACKENZIE emerging as winners.
373. Dances and film shows were arranged by members of the Water- works Office and the Crown Lands and Survey Office; local officers of the Development and Drainage Offices organized Chinese dinners and rambles in the New Territories.
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APPRECIATION
374. As with Hong Kong itself, the year 1960-61 may well be regarded as a milestone in the history of the Public Works Department. With comparatively insignificant increases in staff, expenditure under all heads reached the total of $317 million or 37% of the total expenditure of the Colony, which in turn represented an increase over that for the previous year of 43%. Never before have there been more projects on the drawing board, under construction or completed.
375. The successful execution of a works programme involving expenditure of this magnitude could not have been possible without the willing co-operation and generous assistance of the client departments and all those with whom our activities brought us in contact.
376. Obviously, too, there were very considerable demands on the resources of the Department. It is an achievement of which all officers of the Public Works Department can be proud. It has demonstrated a high degree of flexibility within the Department and its ability to meet such a situation. To all members of the staff I offer my thanks and gratitude for their support and loyalty in the parts they have played to make such a rewarding year possible.
HONG KONG,
26th July, 1961.
A. INGLIS, M.I.C.E., Director of Public Works.
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