220
HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT
Details are as follows:
Island
Kowloon
New Territories
Total
Miles
Concrete
66.18
33.21
16.93
116.32
Bitumen Macadam
73.42
23.41
69.96
166.79
Water-bound
macadam
35.49
61.24
44.35
141.08
Earth
9.48
4.11
12.21
25.80
Steps
.51
.51
Total Miles
185.08
121.97
143.45
450.50
The traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian, carried by all roads, is now so much greater than was ever expected before the war that not only are most roads becoming saturated but they are also requiring uneconomical maintenance. To reduce maintenance costs and effect a gradual improvement, the policy of building new and reconstructed roads to a high standard was continued during the year. The knowledge gained from the experiments carried out last year on the production of more durable road surfacing materials was put to use, and full-scale trials using a dense macadam wearing course were successfully undertaken in a number of busy
streets.
The opening of trenches in roads is a constant cause of delays, inconvenience and irritation to road users and is almost directly related to the development of building and industry. As can be expected with Hong Kong's remarkable post-war expansion, the control of these trenches and their reinstatement requires unrelenting attention and a special organization has been built up to take care of them. A strict control has, of necessity, to be exercised and high and expen- sive standards laid down to ensure satisfactory reinstatement. The ready and willing co-operation of the utility Companies in this respect has been greatly appreciated.
General road works are undertaken by local contractors, while a direct labour force of nearly 1,200 artisans and other workers is employed in the operation of the two Government