T
HONG KONG PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Summary of Progress-January to March 1953
HE report of the Public Works notices affecting 43 houses were serv- tion of Blacksmith's Shop and perl- Department for the first quarter ed under Sections 89 and 142 of the meter fence at the same place: con- of 1953 discloses the extent of the Buildings Ordinance (Revised Edition struction of 5 Nos. 90-T mooring work being carried out in every de- 1950); and 356 notices affecting blocks for the Marine Department; partment and the wide range of de- illegal structures were also served. construction of bollards and concrete velopment projects being undertaken
Fuel Controller, and the demolition apron at North Point seawall for in the Colony.
of Victoria Permanent Pler No. 40.
ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE.
New work completed during the period includes the Police Quarters at Canton Road, the Ho Tung Primary School and the District Court at the Kowloon Magistracy. In addition, two markets, one at Cheung Sha Wan and the other at Bridges Street, extensions to the Un Long Middle School, major alterations to the Central Magistracy and the new Sha Tau Kok Police
Station were due for completion dur-
Ing the second quarter of the year.
345 Inspections and reports were made in regard to structural stability of premises to be licensed by other Departments; and 158 inspections and tests of drainage systems various districts were carried out.
in
CROWN LANDS & SURVEY OFFICE This department is as busy as ever and is luuy occupied with the varied and important duties which come within the scope of its functions.
The Crown
6 H.E.
Lands Section dealt
with a total of 78 applications for purchases of Crown Land, including Among the new work in progress extensions to existing lots, exchanges, are the Police Headquarters at Arsenal grants, etc.: 6 lots were soid by Public Yard, the new Secretariat and Gov- Auction realising a sum of $518,500.00, ernment Offices on Lower Albert 4 lots were soid by Private Treaty Road, Headquarters for the Hong realising a sum of $161,771.00 and Kong R.N.V.R., the new Peak School option charges amounting to $15.- and a Primary School at Aberdeen, 700.00 in respect of 2 lots was received. and the very considerable work en- talled in carrying out the Coronation
lots were granted by order of The Governor, 13 lots were decorations.
granted in exchange, extensions of New work which is being planned area were granted to 4 lots, modifica- and for which in many cases working tion of Sale Conditions Lease Terms drawings are being prepared, includes was granted in respect of 7 lots, new a T.B. Clinic, Sha Tau Kok Primary Crown Leases were granted in respect School, Star Ferry and Queen's Piers, of 3 lots, and extension of time for flats at Marble Hall, Sookunpoo completion of Building Covenants stadium buildings, and Western Police was granted to 23 lots, fines being Station and quarters. Sketch plans imposed in 21 cases. for a new Mental Hospital at Aber- deen were not approved and a new site in the New Territories is being
considered.
BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE
485 Plans covering 661 buildings were received.
22 temporary pier permits were re- newed, the total annual fee amount ing to $9,062.59 and 165 permits were issued for temporary leasing of Crown Land, the total annual fee amounting to $143,652.00.
Survey Section 48 lots were sur- 915 Plans covering 1428 buildings yeyed, lease plans prepared and were approved.
114 Domestic Permits were issued for 116 European type houses; 98 Chinese type houses; 9 Additional storeys; 1 store: 5 quarters; 1 En- gineer's house: 1 new wing of a Hos- pital; 1 hostel and 1 Juvenile Care Centre.
boundary stones fixed; 81 sections were surveyed and surrender plans prepared; 38 lots or areas were set out; 30 building lines were checked: 15 new survey sheets were taken up; 103.35 acres were surveyed and plot- ted and 2 acres contoured: 37,747 feet of control traverse were run and picket boxes fixed, and 10 miscel- laneous surveys were carried out for Government departments.
53 Non-Domestic Permits were Issued for 10 Sheds: 6 Ground Floors; 1 Car Park; Cold Storage; 4. Planning Section-3 draft outline Theatres: 2 Stores; 3 Godowns: 1 development plans and 1 slum Office and Timber Yard; 2 Sub- clearance report were prepared and 6 Stations: 1 Extension of a Factory: 5 private development schemes
were Factories and Workshops; 1 Office; considered. 1 Office and Receiving Room; 1.Sit- ting Hall; 1 Covered Playground; 1 PORT WORKS OFFICE. Clubhouse; 5 Schools; 2 Churches: 1 School additional floor; 2 Shops; 2 Workshops: 1 Laan: 1 Children's Club and 1 extension of a Workshop; and I open yard.
48 Dangerous buildings notices af- fecting 56 houses were served; 43
The following are new works com- pleted to the end of March, 1953:-
The North Point Sea Wall, Rehabi- litation of Arsenal Yard Pier; erec- tion of new oil and paint store at North Point Port. Works Depot.; erec-
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During this period the East, North and West breakwaters at Causeway Bay were almost completed and tion, the removal of obstructions to work on the Causeway Bay reclama- Kal Tak flight funnel, and construc- tion of quay wall and other works at Central Reclamation were in hand. The usual extensive maintenance work and repairs to existing piers Queen's pier and new Star Ferry Pier was carried out. Piling work for new
was started.
A total of 22,300 eu. yards of dredg- ing work was done, whilst 41,144 cu. yards of material was dumped at the various reclamation areas under the control of this department.
Cross sections of stadium site and Eastern Hospital Road were taken and land at the south-west corner of the I.R.C. grounds surveyed for the new Sookunpoo stadium.
At the P.W.D. Testing Laboratory 1,345 concrete compression strength tests, 130 cement tests, 415 soil tests. and 160 tests on bituminous mate- rials, aggregate and timber, were made.
At Kai Tak Airport investigations for the improvement and extension of the Airport were in hand. The re- port of Messrs. Scott and Wilson. Consulting Engineers for this work is given separately.
ROADS OFFICE.
With the closing of the financial year good progress was made during the quarter and the majority of works outstanding were completed. The list of roads re-surfaced through- out the Colony is a formidable one and it is particularly interesting to note that amongst the new works in hand are included the Aberdeen old Road from Jardine's Corner to Aber- deen, the Pokfulam Reservoir Rd. and the access road to the Chai Wan squatter area.
The production at the Government Quarries, under control of this de- partment was very satisfactory. At Hok Un quarry over 28,000 tons of stone were crushed and 6,500 tons of bituminous macadam produced. At Teat Tse Mui quarry almost 28,000 tons of stone were crushed and 6.000 tons of bituminous macadam produc- ed. Preliminary surveys and inves- tigations were started in connection with the siting of the new Govern- ment quarry to replace Tsat Tse Mui.