Far East
ARCHITECT & BUILDER
The oldest trade journal in the Far East
EDITOR: A. G. BARNETT
MARCH 1966
news review
Contents
News Review
33
World News
39
Final Stages of Hong Kong's Ocean
Terminal
49
Ocean Terminal
The mechanical and
electrical services, by Morton R. Berger
52
+
Thai Architecture - Past, Present and
Future, by Prof. An Nimmanahaeminda 56
Medical Library and Student Centre, Hong
Kong University
63
Precast Cruciform Units Frame Research
Centre, UK
67
The Architect and Management,
by Prof. W.G. Gregory
71
Civil Engineering Section
The Tokyo Expressway, by A.G.S. Danaraj 75 Hydraulic Pipe Dredge for Thailand Port
Project
New Materials and Equipment
New Contractors' Plant
Building Plans Approved
Contracts Awarded
Books
77
79
83
87
89
91
Cover Picture: Buddhist Temple at Chiengmai, Thailand. Professor An Nimmanahaeminda writes on Thai Architec- ture past, present and future, on page 56.
Published monthly by Far East Trade Press Ltd., 1908, Prince's Building, Hong Kong. Tel: 241031 European Office: Building and Contract Journals Ltd., 32 Southwark Bridge Road, London, S. E. 1. Tel: Waterloo 2060. Printed by Shum Shing Print- ing Co., 7 Ship Street, Hong Kong. Tel: 724513.
Controlled circulation to 5,000 qualified readers
THE CHALLENGE TO HK ARCHITECTS
THE creation of a brighter and better environment for the Colony's population was the main challenge facing Hong Kong's architects, said Mr. Stanley Kwok in his inaugural speech as president of the Hong Kong Society of Architects.
-
Mr. Kwok compared the problem to that which faced Coventry and Rotterdam two decades ago but instead of bomb damage the Colony was faced with dilapidated structures. By the preparation of a Slum Clearance Report, the HK Govern- the had already furthered
architects must now carry through with its implementation.
ment
cause:
"We are all aware that after a tremendous boom in development we are now faced with what is described as a period of recession", said the new president. "This re- cession, good or bad, has ultimately pointed out to us the various pro- blems and to a certain extent the shortcomings of our profession, and I believe that now is the time for us to subject ourselves to a detailed ex- amination in order that we may appreciate and learn from our past errors.
Mr. Stanley Kwok
"Although, when one reflects on statistics, it is diff- cult to relate a recession to the fact that in 1965 construc- tional work amounted to HK$950.000.000 as against $850,000,000 in 1964. But then figures can sometimes be misleading, especially when bearing in mind the fact that development is extremely difficult to slow down and the effect on statistics invariably does not show until a year or so has elapsed."
CAUSE OF THE BOOM
To trace the cause of the boom would be very com- plicated, continued the president. It seemed that there were three main factors.
First, a large amount of overseas remittance which prior to the boom was sent back to the Mainland of China was instead diverted to Hong Kong, either to house relatives who may have come to live there or for invest- ment. This resulted in a high rate of return due to the shortage of housing at that time.
The second cause was due to the transition of Hong Kong from an entrepot to an industrial city. This indus- trial boom created a vast potential employment and consequently created an affluent middle-class and working group.
As an example, the domestic worker's wage increased from $40 to $60 in the late 40's and early 50's to $250 Daily labour increased from $3 to to $300 at present. $5 to $9 to $11 and skilled carpenters from $12 to ap- proximately $24. This combined with the expanding population in Hong Kong created a corresponding demand for flats.
Thirdly, this demand associated with the Building
Far East Architect & Builder March, 1966
33