has been arranged and construction is about to start on the Nab Ngum project in Laos; and following the com- pletion of the construction design and bidding specifica- tions, finance is being arranged for the Prek Thnot project in Cambodia.
Feasibility reports have been completed and finance is to be sought for another five projects: Battambang in Cambodia: Lam Dom Noi in Thailand: and three projects on the Upper Sre Pok in Viet-Nam.
Feasibility studies are to be financed for four tributary projects: Stung Sen in Cambodia: Se Bang Fai in Laos: Huai Bang Sai in Thailand: and the Upper Se San in Viet- Nam.
Six tributaries are under various stages of prelimin- ary investigations: the Upper Se Done, Nam Theun and Se Bang Hieng in Laos; Stung Pursat in Cambodia; Nam Phrom and Nam Chern in Thailand. This makes a total of 21 tributary projects.
Investigations on the mainstream projects are pro- ceeding and it is hoped that the work on the plans for the Pa Mong (Thailand-Laos) and Sambor (Cambodia) projects will have reached the point by the end of 1968 where discussions about their financing can begin. The Phase investigation on the design and cost of the Tonle Sap barrage the third of the Mekong Committee's main- stream projects, was completed in 1964.
FIRST STAGE OF WAH FU
WORK starts this month on the laying of main drainage for the first stage of the Wah Fu Estate at Pok Fu Lam on Hong Kong Island. The drainage work, which is expected to take six to seven months to finish, comprises the laying of about 2,800 ft. of stormwater drain and 5,800 ft. of sewer including a twin 12 in. diameter sub- marine outfall pipe.
The Wah Fu Estate is the largest of the Housing Authority's housing schemes. Some 2,400 new flats will be erected in the first stage. Each of these is designed to provide accommodation for six to eight persons.
The whole estate is expected to be completed in 1969 and will contain over 7,500 flats, providing accommoda- tion for more than 50,000 people. It is being built at a cost estimated to be about HK$84,000,000.
NEW STRUCTURAL SYSTEM
THE United Engineers Group in Singapore and Malaysia has cbtained the right to manufacture and sell a world- wide patented structural system known as the Space Deck System from its licenser in South East Asia, Curzon Tech- Lical Service (Malaya) Ltd., Kuala Lumpur.
Basically, the system consists of bolting up inverted open square-based pyramids and connecting the apexes together with adjustable high tensile steel tie-bars. The standard pyramids or units are made to a 4 ft. by 4 ft.
Space deck construction in Singapore
plan module and are 3 ft. 6 in deep. The bolted-up units can span up to 72 st, one way or 114 ft. by 124 ft. two ways.
If they are arched between buttress type supports or perimeter ring beams. an arch or dome can be formed and very spectacular spans can also be achieved.
The Space Deck has been widely employed in the United Kingdom and Europe. Since signing the licence agreement, United Engineers has completed a 12,000 sq.ft. building for the Post & Telecommunications Department. Jesselton, Sabah, and another measuring 149 ft. by 143 ft. at Woodlands. Singapore, for the Republic's Public Works Department is nearing completion. A contract for two more buildings in Jurong. Singapore, will be signed soon. The company is setting up a new department to han- dle the sale and manufacture of the system. The firm now plans to build up stocks of these structural units so that buildings may be bought "off-the-shelf".
H
It
The Plover Cover Villages Housing Estate in Tai Po, comprising 13 five-storey reinforced concrete blocks, is now complete. has been built by Hong Kong Government to rehouse some 1,100 villagers who were evacuated from six villages along the coast- line of what will form the Plover Cove Reservoir.
Far East Architect & Builder March, 1967
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