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PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
competitiveness among contractors while, at the same time, the general shortage of skilled labour leads to lower productivity which the contractor must allow for in his pricing.
In view of the expected heavy increase in the public building programme, a con- tinued rise in tender prices is likely. It remains to be seen whether the industry can meet the production demands likely to be made on it.
Expenditure in 1978 on public housing and associated building work amounted to about $143 million, and on other building projects to approximately $550 million.
During the year, as part of the 10-year Housing Programme, 10 housing blocks providing accommodation for 45,000 people were completed. Also completed were two welfare halls, five 24-classroom estate primary schools, six kindergartens, four commercial-communal complexes and two restaurants.
By the end of the year, work was progressing at two public housing estates on nine domestic blocks which, when completed, will provide 37,983 individual units of accom- modation. Of these, 1,218 units are being provided by the conversion of an existing domestic block at Shek Kip Mei Estate. Also in the course of construction was a commercial-communal complex in Stage II of Tai Hing Estate at Tuen Mun which, when completed, will combine with the facilities constructed in Stage I to meet the commercial-communal needs of the entire estate. In addition, planning and prepara- tory work was under way for the conversion and redevelopment of the remainder of Shek Kip Mei Estate. This, on completion, will provide a further 13,833 individual units of accommodation.
Notable projects completed on Hong Kong Island were the first stage of Chater Garden in Central District; the first stage of a recreation centre at Wan Chai; a fire station at Chung Hom Kok; non-departmental quarters at Borrett-Road; the MacLehose Dental Nurses Training School; a further extension to the columbarium at Cape Collinson Crematorium; an indoor games hall at Aberdeen Sportground; married officers' quarters and a community centre at Victoria Barracks; a technical workshop at HMS Tamar; and the new residence for the Commander British Forces, undertaken as part of the work associated with the release to the Hong Kong Govern- ment of land at Victoria Barracks.
Among the buildings completed in Kowloon were an extension to the office block at Hong Kong International Airport, Kai Tak; a vehicle inspection centre; a driving test centre; the reprovisioning of Stanley Training Centre at Lai Chi Kok; non- departmental quarters at Broadcast Drive; the reprovisioning of Ma Tau Wai Girls Home; a funeral depot at Winslow Street, Hung Hom; the first stage of Cheung Sha Wan Sportsground; part of the second stage of Kowloon Park in Tsim Sha Tsui; police stations at Cheung Sha Wan and Ho Man Tin; an extension to Ma Tau Kok Quarantine Depot; and, for Gurkha units at Gun Club Hill Barracks, married officers' quarters, a medical centre and an extension to the primary school.
Work completed in the New Territories included police stations at Sheung Kwai Chung, Sha Tin and Fanling; rank and file quarters for the police at Kwai Chung and Sha Tin and similar quarters for the fire services at Tsuen Wan and Sha Tin; a swim- ming pool complex at Fanling; a sportsground at Kwai Chung; a crematorium and columbarium at Tsuen Wan; an additional workshop at Tai Lam Centre for Women; the railway station and booking office at Sha Tin Racecourse Station; the control and