must plan for the increased production of materials such as cement, steel, glass, etc., development and improvement in the quality of indigenous materials should also receive more attention, A considerable proportion of the ma- terials required by the building industry were not con- sidered to be products of what was commonly understood by the term "industry," and therefore had not received due attention in the industrial development plans of the countries concerned.
Mr. U Nyun believed that for some time to come materials such as bricks, tiles and lime would account for a major share of the materials used in the construction industry. The old methods of production of those ma- terials had been adequate to meet simple and scattered demand but, with the growing demand for better build- ings of all types those industries would have to adopt improved, modern production methods and techniques if they were to survive the competition from the constant introduction of new materials.
The Executive Secretary emphasized the need for co-operation of research efforts between countries and the avoidance of duplication. Fire research on building ma- terials was, he said, an area for regional co-operative activities. Despite awareness of the fire hazard and of the resulting loss of life and property, there was no organiza- tion to study problems associated with fire in any of the developing countries of the region.
BUILDING PLANS APPROVED
THE Building Authority approved a total of 20 new build- ing plans of all types in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories, last December. In the same period, 40 newly-completed buildings were certified for occupation as compared with 44 in November.
Of these new buildings, three were for domestic pur- poses, 17 for non-domestic purposes, and 20 for com- bined domestic and non-domestic use. In addition, the Building Authority approved the demolition of six build- ings.
Cost of new building work in the Colony in the month of November amounted to HK$67,994,298, while a total of HK$7,361,023 was spent on site formation work. In the same period there were 138 new buildings of all types erected. This total includes eight factories and godowns, nine offices and shops, 110 houses and flats and 11 other buildings of mixed accommodation.
HOUSING AUTHORITY CONTRACTS
THE contract for building the first stage of the Hong Kong Housing Authority's Ping Shek Estate, Kowloon. has been awarded to Wan Hin and Co. Ltd. for the sum of HK$20,705,773.
Work is starting immediately on the contract which covers the erection of five rectangular tower blocks each of 28 storeys. Some 4,320 flats will be provided, giving accommodation to 27,000 people. Architects for the project are Palmer and Turner.
The Housing Authority has also accepted a tender of HK$9,928,631 from On Lee and Co. for stage IVa of its Wah Fu Estate, near Aberdeen. This contract covers the construction of the twin tower blocks Nos. 5 and 6.
each of which has an average of 34 flats per floor and will reach a height of 21 storeys.
The Wah Fu Estate is the largest of the Housing Authority's projects. It has its own two-level town centre and will eventually house about 50,000 people. The Authority's own architectural staff are responsible for its design.
START SOON ON HK$4M. COLLEGE
WORK is to begin soon on the construction of a new college for the Kiangsu-Chekiang Residents (HK) Association. Estimated to cost about HK$4 million, it will be erected on a site of 73,000 sq. ft. at Braemar Hill Road, near Tai Hang Road, Hong Kong.
The site formation contract has been let and tenders for the main contract are expected to be invited in April. Completion is scheduled in about 18 months.
The buildings, of reinforced concrete frame construc- tion, will contain 36 classrooms and 14 laboratories. The classrooms, administrative offices and 14 libraries will be housed in a main block which will be joined by two wings, one containing the laboratories and the other the assembly
Preliminary study model of Kiangsu-Chekiang College
hall above a covered playground. A basketball court will be provided on decking between the laboratory block and the assembly hall block.
Kong.
Architects for the project are Chau and Lee, Hong
KL PLAN "INADEQUATE"
THE Draft Town Plan of Kuala Lumpur is "inadequate in form and context, lacking any details and fraught with ambiquity to become a statutory document". This is the view of the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM), ex- pressed to the Board of Inquiry which recently heard objections to the proposed plan.
The PAM called for the immediate preparation of a new Master Plan on a proper basis "to replace this hastily prepared and grossly inadequate set of plans". It said that a period of six to 12 months must be earmarked for
First stages of Wah Fu Estate overlooking East Lamma Channel, near Aberdeen
Far East Architect & Builder February, 1968
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