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PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
Authority to be in metric form. Throughout 1976 it was optional for plans in con- nection with private construction works to be submitted in either Imperial or metric form, in order to give everyone the time and opportunity to become accustomed to metrication.
Since 1972 the Public Works Department and the Education Department have been in the forefront of the changeover to metric units of measurement in Hong Kong. All new designs for public works projects were in metric form by 1976 and survey maps in metric form are progressively being introduced.
Land Development
In Kowloon, development of land included about 1.1 hectares for the Pak Tin public housing estate and the final seven hectares of the 40 hectares developed for housing, commercial and community uses at Clear Water Bay Road. Construction of a new three-kilometre section of Clear Water Bay Road within the development area continued, and construction of the major road bridges and junctions was begun. At Lai Chi Kok, 1.2 hectares were formed for the second mental hospital now being built there. In Kwun Tong reclamation continued at Kowloon Bay, where 7.1 hectares were formed for public roads and industrial development. One hectare of land was formed for the extension of airport facilities at Kai Tak.
On Hong Kong Island, reclamation continued with the formation of 1.6 hectares in Central for roads and community uses; 7.2 hectares at Chai Wan for housing, industrial and cargo-handling uses; and 1.2 hectares at Aldrich Bay for roads, boat- yards and a ferry concourse. Reclamation was also begun at the site of the Aberdeen sewage screening plant and at Po Chong Wan, Aberdeen, to provide land for boat- yards, industrial uses, a seamen's training centre and road extension. On the waterfront at Western, 0.7 of a hectare was reclaimed for the construction of roads, a market and cargo-handling uses, while 6.2 hectares were reclaimed at Lei Yue Mun Bay for a mass transit railway depot. At Mount Butler, 1.0 hectare was formed for non- departmental quarters.
In the New Territories, reclamation commenced at Shuen Wan in Tai Po Hoi for the formation of the first stage of the Tai Po industrial estate and some 5.0 hectares were formed. At Tuen Mun new town, work began on the construction of Pillar Point Road from Pillar Point to Siu Lang Shui.
Water Supplies
There was a continuous water supply throughout the year and apart from three weeks of limited water restrictions in late 1974 a full supply has now been maintained since 1967.
At the beginning of 1976 there were 274 million cubic metres in storage, compared with 248 million cubic metres at the start of the previous year. Rainfall during the year was in excess of the average of 2 169 mm, a total of 2 197 mm being recorded. Overflow occurred in all reservoirs by late August and the beginning of the dry season in October saw the reservoirs 96 per cent full. There were 293 million cubic metres in storage on October 1, compared with 291 million cubic metres the previous year.