These include buildings for the Kubota Iron & Machinery Works, the Japan Gas Association, Midori-kan, Hitachi, the land mark tower and the festival plaza.
The Kubota pavilion is being constructed ac- cording to its theme 'The Blessings of Water and Rice'. It is designed to make the best use of the G-type column developed by Kubota, and will consist of a central 40-metre high pole, a 40in. diameter umbrella-type tower and several circular sub-buildings.
The Midori-kan (Astro-rama) pavilion will be a domed building of 46 metres diameter and 31 metres height. It will consist of 14-metre sided triangular units, prefabricated and bound to each other with high-tensile steel bolts. The roof will be covered with decorative hard plastics.
The land mark tower is the main symbol of Expo '70. It will be 121 metres high and the entire exposition area will be visible from its observation platform. The tower, a frame structure comprising three main columns and 10.8 metre steel pipes, will have two lifts, an observation platform, snack bars and a radio communications station.
Another key building of the exposition will be the festival plaza. This will have a 108m x 320m roof, 30 metres above the ground and made of steel columns and pipes.
Crown land sold for HK$2.7 million
Evidence of the renewed interest in building development in Hong Kong was provided last month at the City Hall where a public auction of three lots of Crown land realised HK$2,720,000.
A lot of 10,394 sq. ft. at Hung To Road, Kwun Tong (Lot No. 660) was sold to Asia Knitting Fac- tory for HK$840,000. The lot is for industrial or godown use, with a required building covenant of HK$310,000 before June 30, 1972. Its upset price was HK$312,000.
A second lot, for non-industrial use, at 906-910 Canton Road, went to Mr. Wong Man-sau for HK$570,000. The upset price of this lot was HK$190,000. It has an area of 2,375 sq. ft., with a building covenant of HK$140,000 before June 30, 1972.
The third lot, starting at an upset price of HK$365,000, was sold to Ip Sok-wun and Chang Hoi-lan for HK$1,310,000. It covers 9,132 sq. ft. at Ngau Hon Street on the To Kwa Wan reclama- tion and is for industrial or godown purposes.
Sociological study by Singapore Housing Board
The Singapore Housing and Development Board has set up its own statistics and research depart- ment to evaluate the success of its low-cost housing schemes as a guide to future planning.
Formed with the assistance of the University of Singapore's economic research centre, the depart ment will carry out socio-economic surveys and studies of life in the Board's high-rise flats, resettle-
ment problems and other sociological issues that arise. It will find out whether the Board's present tenants are reasonably satisfied with what has been done and whether improvements can be made.
In addition the department will look into future housing requirements with regard to changes in family patterns and the rate of increase in popula- tion, what sort of improvements can be made to existing estates and how management can be made more efficient.
Though the department will not undertake architectural research, its activities will assist other departments in future building designs and planning layout and in the provision of amenities both in individual flats and in the neighbourhood.
Parts depot for Allis Chalmers
A multi-million dollar parts and service training centre is to be built in Singapore by Allis-Chalmers the American construction equipment group.
The centre will occupy 10 acres and will be
ALLIS - CHALMERS
Parts depot and training centre
completed before Autumn. It will stock construc- tion machinery, material handling and industrial equipment parts from the company's U.S., British, French, Italian and Australian operations.
Fewer empty flats in Hong Kong
For the last two years more flats have been let or sold in Hong Kong than have been built and the stage has now been reached at which property developers should be reviving dormant schemes and embarking on new projects to meet the anticipated demand.
This comment is made in a 'Review of Un- occupied Premises' produced by the Rating & Valuation Department. A check made by the de- partment last month revealed that there were 7,282 empty flats - the lowest number since 1963 and a 50 per cent. drop in a year.
The review also makes the point that flats in newly-completed buildings get let or sold faster than in older buildings with poorer management and no lifts. It also mentions that some owners of older buildings will not redecorate and that some will not reduce rents or purchase prices to the market level.
More and more Hong Kong people own their
Far East BUILDER, April 1969
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