HONG KONG PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE
Summary of Progress for April, May, and June 1950.
Leighton Hill, Peak Pavilions, Queen's Garden & King's Park Flats-A contract was let for laying felt membrane roofing to all these quarters.
New Residence for Hon. Colonial Secretary-A contract for site preparation, drainage and foundation works was started in May and is now 98% complete. The main contract is now out to tender and tenders are due in on 14th July. Roads Office have commenced work on the access road.
Proposed New Secretariat & Government Offices—A decision is awaited on the question of whether air-conditioning is to be incorporated in the design of the new buildings. Sketch plans have been taken as far as possible, pending the receipt of detailed information from the Secretariat of the requirements of the various Government Departments who are to have accommodation in this new building. It is under- stood that returns have been made to the Secretariat but little progress can be made in the Architectural Office until this information is available.
Albany Road Flats-Plans, estimate and report have been submitted to the Director of Public Works.
Hongkong Defence Force Headquarters-Plans, estimate and report on two alternative schemes (one permanent con- struction and one temporary) have been submitted to the Director of Public Works; the site of the proposed building being the old Civil Servants' Cricket Club. The scheme incorporates the rehabilitation of the existing clubhouse.
Police Stations Contracts for the Bayview and Hunghom Police Stations were completed on 21st April and 2nd May respectively, and Bostwick gates have now been fitted to the main entrances of both these Police Stations. Bostwick gates have also been fitted to the main entrance of the Shaukiwan Police Station, and additional lights have been provided for security reasons.
Progress on the Kowloon Police Station remains satis- factory. A request has been made for additional security fencing and an estimate for this work has been forwarded to the Director of Public Works. A request by the Department of Civil Aviation for the fixing of guide and obstruction lights on the high points of the building is being dealt with.
Work is progressing satisfactorily on the New Territories Police Stations at Sai Kung, Sha Tin, Castle Peak and Tsun Wan; while sketch plans, report and estimate for the Sha Tau Kok Police Station were submitted to the Director of Public Works on 19th June.
The contract for Asiatic Police Quarters was signed on 27th May; difficulty was experienced with old foundations and retaining walls but progress has been reasonable and concrete foundations are now going in. Sketch site layout for the Asiatic Police Quarters, Kowloon, has been prepared and has had the approval of the Commissioner of Police. This scheme is now being worked out to 1/16" scale.
Schools-All main structural work on King's College Primary School has been completed, plastering work is 75% complete, and roofs are ready for laying of felt but work was held up by bad weather.
As anticipated, the contract for Queen's College, Causeway Bay, was signed on 17th April. In spite of rain, good pro- gress has been made; reinforced concrete work throughout is complete, brickwork 60% complete, internal and external plastering 50% complete. Delivery of metal windows through Crown Agents is likely to be three weeks behind schedule and delivery of materials for the Assembly Hall will probably be four to six weeks behind schedule. This delay may postpone completion date of the Assembly Hall. However, it is anti- cipated that the main building will be ready for occupation by 11th September.
Work is progressing satisfactorily on the Vernacular Primary School, Gap Road.
Miscellaneous-The contract for Marine Licensing Station, Cheungchau, was completed on 16th May, while contracts were signed for Marine Licensing Stations, Aberdeen and Yaumati, on 2nd June. In the latter jobs, ground floor slabs have been completed on both sites.
Tenders together with reports for the Kowloon T.B. Clinic were submitted on 17th May with recommendation for im- proved finishings. No further action has been taken as no instructions have been received.
Consideration is being given to re-planning the New Fire Station, Kowloon, on the same site in order to cut down cost of site formation. Approval of the sketch plans for the Radio- Sonde Station at King's Park has now been received and working drawings will commence as soon as staff is available. Sites are still being investigated for the Offices & Quarters for Revenue Department. Instructions have been received to prepare detailed scheme and estimate for new buildings for Observatory & Department of Civil Aviation, but no progress has yet been made.
BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE
Tabulated Summary of Activities
No. of Plans Received
No. of Houses & Other Buildings
covered by plans received
No. of Plans Approved
No. of Houses & Other Buildings
covered by plans received
Total Apr. May June 988 303 379 306
1903 567 863 673 1329 409 460 460
2141 645 844 652
116 Domestic Permits were issued for 44 European type houses, 162 Chinese type houses, 1 Apartment house, 1 block of European type flats, 1 hotel building, No. 7 Second Street and 2 new houses on LL.2837 Sec. F. Electric Road, upper floors of 197 Queen's Road E., 2 workmen's dormitories and 3 living quarters.
In addition, 60 Non-Domestic Permits were issued 4 factories, 6 godowns, 5 garages, 1 school building, 1 swimming pool, 1 restaurant, 1 transformer house, 3 office buildings, 1 Alm process room, 1 church, 1 spinning & weaving mill, 1 service Alling station, the War Memorial Welfare Centre, lower floors of 3 houses, and various stores and sheds.
73 dangerous buildings notices were served affecting 128 houses; 56 notices affecting 63 houses were served under Sections 104 and 126 of the Buildings Ordinance 1935; 227 notices affecting illegal structures. 295 inspections and reports were made in regard to structural stability of premises to be licensed by other Departments; 212 tests and inspection of drainage systems to various districts were also carried out.
CROWN LANDS & SURVEY OFFICE
During the quarter under review, 84 applications for purchase of Crown Land, including extensions to existing lots, exchanges, grants, etc., were received. 8 lots, realising a sum of $744,210.00, were sold by Public Auction, and 3 lots amounting to $203,131.00 were sold by Private Treaty. Exten- sion of time for completion of Building Covenants was granted to 14 lots, fines being imposed in each case; new Crown Lease was granted in respect of 1 lot. 2 lots were granted in exchange, while extensions were granted to 2 lots. 259 permits were issued for temporary leasing of Crown Lands, total annual fee amounting to $137,757.00.
Routine survey work, setting out of sites for sale and town planning and the reconstruction of records and per- manent survey marks were continued.
DRAINAGE OFFICE
General maintenance work, including clearing of sewers, stormwater drains, nullahs and channels, and the replacement of covers, gratings and traps, was carried out satisfactorily.
The chlorination tank on the Repulse Bay septic tank was brought into operation and is functioning satisfactorily. Concrete channels were laid and a new grill was fixed to the S.W. culvert below IL, 6375 off Peak Road, and repairs to anti-material channels below Mt. Kellett, Lugard Road and Severn Road were carried out.
A number of nullahs were silted up during heavy rain- storms, removal by the Drainage Office in conjunction with the Sand Monopoly is being carried out.
Works executed on private account included 202 sewer and, or stormwater connections, and extensions of sewers by 216 ft.
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