HONG KONG BUILDING INDUSTRY DIARY
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING EVENTS DURING JANUARY, FEBRUARY & MARCH 1950
4th January
Government has approved the plans for a new T.B. clinic in Kowloon, much to the satisfaction of the Director of Medical Services, Dr. the Hon. I. Newton. The Department has exercised extreme care in the layout, and the result is likely to represent one of the most up-to-date medical clinics in the Far East. The site chosen is the corner of Waterloo Road and Argyle Street on part of the Kowloon Hospital grounds. The new building is expected to be completed by September and will serve the whole of Kowloon,
6th January
Decision was reserved by Mr. W. H. Latimer in the Tenancy Tribunal to-day in an action brought by the Soares- Alves Estates against the Far East Aviation Company, Ltd., and the Far East Motors, Ltd., in which the applicants are asking for an order for possession of the property occupied by the opponents, known as K.I.L. 3349 and situated at the junction of Nathan Road and Middle Road.
It was announced to-day that the Governor has appointed
a Town Planning Board as follows:
The
Work upon Welfare Centre commenced at Wanchai. building preparations at Southorn Playground in Wanchai herald pleasant things to come for the under-privileged children of that area and the possible eviction of the hundreds of picturesque story-tellers, palmists and hawkers who deploy nightly on the ground. The foundations which have just been laid there are for a large model Centre which will be the focal point, and will co-ordinate the activities of the many and varied societies working for the welfare of the poorer classes. After three and half years, which have involved some bickering, the Children's Playground Association is now able to build a Centre which will provide recreational and, welfare facilities for the poor children of Wanchai and one which according to the sponsors, will teach them the qualities of sportsmanship, restraint and tolerance, as well as the enjoy- ment of cleanliness and hygiene. No child will be denied admittance to the new playground and Centre, but these will be principally for those young ones who at the present time have no means of recreation.
10th February
With completion of the erection of Edinburgh House in Queen's Road Central at its junction with Ice House Street, Government is considering plans for the re-grading of Queen's Road between Shell House and Ice House Street to bring it the level of the raised pavement outside Kayamally Building.
The Director of Public Works (Chairman), the Chairman of the Urban Council, Messrs. S. E. Faber, A. E. Lissaman, R. S. W. Paterson and W. W. C. Shewan.
to The appointments are effective for a year from 1st January, 1950. 12th January
An eviction order was reversed by Mr. Justice Gould, Puisne Judge, when he delivered judgment in the Appeal Court in favour of Lau Nai-lam, of 15, Dragon Terrace, who appealed against a judgment of Mr. W. H. Latimer, President of the Tenancy Tribunal, who granted an application for an eviction order in respect of the first floor of the premises. Wong Yau-king, of 7, Dragon Terrace, landlady of the premises, was the first respondent and the second was Wong Suk-Chun, of 8, Bay View, who was stated to be the concubine of appellant.
13th January
Four petitions for specific performance of land transactions during the Japanese occupation were granted by Mr. Justice Williams, Senior Puisne Judge, at the Supreme Court.
30th January
To-day at 6.30 p.m. Freemasons of the English, Scottish and Irish Constitutions took part in the opening and dedication of their new Masonic Hall. It will be known as Zetland Hall from the name of the original building destroyed during the Pacific War. the foundation stone of which was laid on Tuesday, February 1, 1853.
1st February
The government Quartering Authority requisitioned the following for the Military. 31 acres of vacant land at Fan Gardens, Fanling-Lots Nos. 1877 C. & D, 1878 C, 1880 A, 1881 A. 1882 to 1884, 1885 A, 1886 B, 1888 to 1891, and 4486 in D. D. 51.
and
The following properties were derequisitioned returned to the owners: Tai Po Inland Lot No. 8, including a derelict house, Tai Po Inland Lot No. 7, including a derelict house, and Lots Nos. 634 and 635 in D.D. 32 (land adjoining Tai Po Inland Lot No. 7). The properties were requisitioned for the Military Authorities in August, last year.
3rd February
The area in Hongkong bounded on the north by Des Voeux Road West, on the east by Hill Road, on the south by Pokfulam Road and on the west by an imaginary line from the junction of Des Voeux Road West and Queen's Road West to Ricci Hall, Pokfulam Road, is to be cleared of squatters, it was announced to-day.
4th February
The administrative offices of Cable and Wireless moved to-day from the Gloucester Hotel to their new quarters in Electra House, in Connaught Road. Starting to-morrow, all administrative work will be undertaken at Electra House.
An estimated HK$9,350,000 is being spent on new roads and on repairs to existing roads and streets in the Colony, the "Sunday Herald" learned authoritatively to-day. Biggest new road projects, at present under construction, are the Lam Tsuen Valley Road between Taipo Shui Wai and Kam Tin, and Fun Shui Gap Road between Fanling and Shek Tong.
7th February
Survey work on the proposed site for Hong Kong's new airport off Deep Bay in the New Territories has been started. The Air Ministry Survey Party, which is undertaking the survey, arrived here last month and began work a week ago. The Party includes Mr. A. Goode, Superintending Engineer, Messrs. A. F. Smith and W. N. Burrow, Assistant Civil Engineers, and Messrs. T. Convey and F. Farrow, Land Surveyors. It was officially stated that the survey work may take several months to complete depending on the weather and other adverse conditions that might temporarily hold up operations.
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31
Built at a cost of over one-and-a-half million dollars, the new five-storied Staff Quarters and Nurses Training School of the Nethersole Hospital in Bonham Road was officially declared open by His Excellency the Governor, Sir Alexander Grantham, to-day in the presence of a large gathering. The site was given by the London Missionary Society and work on the building was commenced in the spring of last year.
11th February
During the year under review, no satisfactory work of rehabilitation or maintenance has been carried out at Stanley Prison, and these costly and impressive buildings are gradually rotting, states the Commissioner of Prisons in his report for the year ended March 31, 1949. Most of the roofs leak badly and the cell windows give little protection from rain if accompanied by wind, becaure about 80 per cent of the glass is missing from the louvres. Most of the cells have to accom- modate three prisoners and it is not unusual to find bed- boards propped slanting against the cell wall with prisoners crouched under them for protection against the rain which is blowing in.
The Hongkong Sunday Examiner says that a Catholic concern, which owns some land in Shaukiwan, is willing to build on this land a row of twenty-four flats each consisting of two large rooms, 15' X 15', a kitchen, bathroom, and verandah. Prospective tenants should pay in advance the sum of HK$10,000° which amount constitutes a rent for a period of three years. This figure does not, of course, include rates and taxes. The locality is good, being near a Church, a tram line, and bus route. The flats could be erected in a few months, if sufficient interest is shown by Catholics.
12th February
Mr. Daniel Chen, Chairman of the Kowloon City Fire Relief and Rehabilitation Committee, announced that sealed tenders for the construction of 200 huts in Homuntin Valley for the re-settlement of the fire victims will be received by the Committee beginning to-morrow. The tenders call for the building of two classes of better-grade huts to be constructed of sandbricks, concrete and timber and some with steel frames. They are to be built at an estimated cost of $1,000 and $885 each, respectively, but Mr. Chen expects that their cost will be much less. The original plan called for another class, for $1,500 but that was deemed too expensive,
14th February
The first floating godown to take part in helping alleviate the grave storage problem in Hong Kong commenced to load cargoes to-day. The Chung 106, a former LST built in America, owned by the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company, which is capable of taking 2,000 measurement tons of cargo, had her space fully booked many days ago, according to a spokesman of the owners. She started loading cargoes at China Merchants Wharf, West Point, this morning, having obtained approval of the Director of Marine.
24th February
The troops in Hongkong are shortly to have a "super" club of their own. The club's frontage will extend from the Bible Auditorium to the railway level crossing in Chatham Road, Kowloon-a distance of more than 140 yards. Work on the building has already begun and it is hoped that the opening will take place in May.
1st March
The new Duncan Sloss School of Engineering and Architecture in Pokfulam Road was officially opened by the Governor, Sir Alexander Grantham, in his capacity as Chan- cellor of the University of Hong Kong. The opening of this imposing new building, the latest addition to the University, was made to coincide with the first Congregation in nine
years.