4th May
HONG
KONG BUILDING INDUSTRY DIARY
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING EVENTS DURING MAY, JUNE & JULY, 1950.
"There is very good factual evidence in the form of our raised beaches that we are imperceptibly moving up. I do not wish to be widely quoted for the present because I need to check much more carefully on my observations, but I believe that the present upward movement is possibly one foot every two hundred years," said Dr. S. G. Davis, M.Sc., F.G.S.. Lecturer in Geography at the University of Hongkong and Northcote Training College, in the course of an interesting address on "Some Geographical Phenomena Relating to Hongkong," at the weekly luncheon meeting of the Hongkong Y's Men's Club.
5th May
An annexe of the Shell Sports Club was opened at the Kun Tong Installation of the Asiatic Petroleum Company to-day.
Further elimination of squatter camps on the Island has been order by the authorities concerned. The next squatter Encampment to be cleared as defined in the "Government Gazette" is an area in the Western District.
10th May
As a result of the successful working of the Hongkong Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., during 1949, the Company hopes that it will soon be in a position to pay a dividend to shareholders. This was announced by the Chairman of the Company, Mr. Lawrence Kadoorie, at the annual general meeting to-day.
11th May
In the Director's annual report of the Hongkong University it was stated that it was becoming clear that the University would have to provide for at least 850 students in the near future, compared with a maximum of just over 500 before the war. In view of this, a large increase of staff and student accommodation, both living and lecturing, would be essential. 12th May
H.E. the Governor has appointed a Housing Committee to consider and advise Government on all housing projects, whether sponsored by Government or by private individuals, associations or companies, it was announced to-day. Members of the Committee will be Mr. W. J. Carrie (Chairman), the Hon. Director of Public Works, the Deputy Director of Health Services, the Social Welfare Officer, Mr. S. E. Faber, A.F.C., Mr. Daniel Chen, Mr. R. C. Lee, O.B.E., Mr, U. Tat-chee, with the Assistant Secretary in Charge of Buildings and Lands as Secretary.
13th May
It was announced that upwards of 25,000 destitutes and squatters in the Colony will be settled on Lantao Island and put to productive work on the land, if a scheme sponsored by the Kowloon Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and now being studied by other organisations, is found to be practicable. 16th May
A sum of approximately $2,000,000 will be spent on building the new Chinese General Chamber of Commerce on a new site in Connaught Road Central. Mr. Ko Cheuk-hung, Chairman of the Chamber, revealed.
18th May
An additional wing to the Po Leung Kuk was officially opened to-day as an Industrial and Domestic Training Wing. The foundation stone was laid eight months ago.
Some leasehold property at West Point, put up for sale by order of the mortgagee at De Sousa's Auction Rooms to-day fetched $72,500, or $25,500 more than the upset price of $47,000. The purchaser was Mr. Kwan Wing-yen, of 9 Queen's Street, 3rd Floor,
22nd May
Tentative plans for a proposed hostel for girls were discussed at a tea party held by the Hongkong Council of Women
at the Downtown Centre of the YWCA, Duddell Street. The meeting was attended by Lady Grantham and Mrs. Walter Scott.
23rd May
A decision of considerable importance to tenants and land- lords was given by Mr. V. L. D'Alton, Tenancy Tribunal Chairman, in a written judgment when he ruled that the Chinese characters "sheung kee" (advance) did not necessarily mean on the first day of each month in advance.
31st May
The Board of Directors of the Hongkong Anti-Tuberculosis Association has announced that before the end of the year it expects to complete the erection and equipment of a building on the site of the old guard-house (now in course of demoli- tion) adjoining the entrance to the Ruttonjee Sanitorium. 2nd June
A house and grounds near Fan Ling (Lot 2231 in D.D.92) was de-requisitioned and returned to the owner it was announced to-day. They were requisitioned for the Military Authorities in June, 1949.
The first of five new Marine Licensing Stations was officially opened by Mr. Francis Brett, Senior Marine Officer, Marine Department at Cheung Chau Island.
3rd June
Work on the erection of about 130 temporary houses and shops at Shatin is expected to start in the near future. Five- year permits have been granted by Government to the owner of land opposite Shatin Railway Station to erect the buildings
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on condition that the land is drained by the owner, and that no building is closer than 50 feet to the main road. 6th June
The grand opening of the Fourseas Hotel, at 77, Waterloo Road, Kowloon, was marked by a cocktail party held at the premises to-day.
8th June
The Matilda Hospital was de-requisitioned and returned to the owners by the Quartering Authority. It was requisiti- tioned for the Military Authorities in July 1949.
Government's refusal to renew the Farm Lot leases at Pokfulam was criticised at the annual meeting of the Dairy Farm, Ice and Cold Storage Co., Ltd., held at Windsor House. 10th June
The Swedish Trading Company exhibited a pre-fabricated house which was erected on Salisbury Road close to Holt's Wharf.
17th June
Linson Aluminium Factory (Part of Lot No. 1 R.P. in D.D. 449) and the South China Iron Works, Tsun Wan, were de-requisitioned and returned to the owners, it was announced to-day. These were requisitioned for the Military Authorities on August 18 and June 1, 1949, respectively.
18th June
No. 357B Prince Edward Road was de-requisitioned and returned to the owners on Thursday, June 15. It was first requisitioned in October, 1945.
Hong Kong Government, in its role as principal tenant, has notified 50 of its sub-tenants that their tenancies will expire on November 30. The 50 householders, who occupy Government requisitioned premises, have been told that they should make arrangements to quit their present flats before the end of November unless they are able to reach agreements with the owners to continue accommodation. 21st June
An area of vacant land at Shatin (Lots Nos. 440B, 440C, 440C 1, 440C/2, 440C/3 and 440C. 4 in D.D. 183) was de-requisitioned and returned to the owners. 22nd June
Construction will shortly begin on a Radio-Sonde Station on a hilltop in King's Park, Kowloon. The station will be a branch of the Observatory. Capital cost of the station will be met from a Colonial Development and Welfare Fund grant. 24th June
The scheme of the Chinese Methodist Church to embrace a Church building, a school and a welfare centre was lauded by His Excellency the Hon. J. F. Nicoll, C.M.G., Officer Administering the Government, to-day when he cut the first sod of a hill-top site in Gascoigne Road where the three buildings are to be erected.
25th June
Survey work on the site for Hong Kong's new airport has been completed, the "Sunday Herald" learned officially yesterday.
28th June
With the object of enabling retrospective effect to be given regarding compensation payable for requisitioned land and buildings and to rectify an anomalous situation, an Ordinance to amend further the Emergency Powers (Extension and Amendment Incorporation) Ordinance, 1946, was given its first reading at the meeting of the Legislative Council.
An Ordinance to amend the Land Transactions (Enemy Occupation) Ordinance, 1948, will be given its first reading at the meeting to-morrow of the Legislative Council. The amendment is a result of representations made to Government by the Incorporated Law Society of Hongkong regarding transactions during the Japanese occupation."
House No. 539, The Peak (Stubbs Road) was de-requisi- tioned and handed back to the owner. It was requisitioned for the Military Authorities in June, 1949.
At the annual meeting of the Metropolitan Land Company Ltd., held at Edinburgh House, the Chairman, Mr. Charles H. Duff, described the conditions prevailing in Shanghai and their disastrous effect upon the Company's operations there. 29th June
The War Office has now given final approval to the scheme which will ensure an addition of 66 flats to the number of War Department Married Quarters in Hongkong, it was announced to-day.
30th June
In view of the increase in tuberculosis cases, the directors of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals are considering a proposal to erect a sanitorium for the poor. The cost of the proposed project—a six or seven-storey building-in the vacant compound at Kwong Wah Hospital, Kowloon, is about $600,000.
30th June
Lots Nos. 4571, 4548 and 4727 in D.D. 51 near Fanling including house known as "Sui Pak Gardens" was derequisi- tioned and returned to the owner. It was requisitioned for the Military Authorities in August, 1949. 4th July
Lots Nos. 533 & 534B in D.D. 122, near Ping Shan, includ- ing house known as Lan Yuen, were de-requisitioned and returned to the owner. It was requisitioned for the Royal Air Force in October, 1949.