HONGKONG.
511
No. 28
93
REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DURING THE FIRST HALF-YEAR 1893.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, on the 29th August, 1893.
No. 715.
PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE, HONGKONG, 15th July, 1893.
SIR,--In accordance with instructions contained in C.S.O. 279, I have the honour to forward you a brief report on the progress of Public Works during the first half of this year, viz., from January 1st to June 30th.
ANNUAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE,
2. Maintenance of Buildings.-All Government Buildings at present in occupation have been maintained in a satisfactory state of repair without incurring any exceptional expenditure.
3. The Superintendent's Quarters and outbuildings at the Gaol have been redrained and the drainage of these premises is now in a satisfactory condition, C.S.O.
215
4. The building known as Crosby Store now used as a store for this Department and offices for the Educational Department is fast approaching a condition that, unless it is to be abandoned altogether, extensive repairs will have shortly to be carried out.
5. The old Police Station and Harbour Office at Aberdeen is being re-roofed and other minor repairs carried out. It has been decided, C.S.O., to utilize a portion of this building as a Government School.
6. The roof of the Stanley Police Station has been a constant source of trouble specially during \ the rainy season, and it will be expedient during the coming winter to replace the present flat roof by a ridged one.
7. Maintenance of Telegraphs.-As stated in my last annual report, provision has been made in this year's estimate for partly meeting the expenditure to be incurred in the more general introduction of telephones in the place of telegraph instruments, as a means of communication between the several Police Stations, and other Government buildings throughout the Colony, and effecting other minor improvements set out in my report, C.S.O..
·
This work has proceeded very satisfactorily, the lines in Kowloon have been constructed through- out as has also the line from Causeway Bay to Shaukiwan, and the whole of the telegraph instruments with the exception of the ones at the Post Office and Gap Rock, in connection with the Gap Rock cable, have been replaced by telephones.
8. Public Cemetery.-The Public Cemetery has been maintained without any exceptional expendi- ture. The number of interments have been 37.
9. Maintenance of Praya Wall and Piers.--The usual repairs have been carried out and no exceptional expenditure incurred.
10. Maintenance of Lighthouses.-The Lighthouses have been maitained in a satisfactory state of repair.
11. Maintenance of Disinfector.-The building and apparatus is in a satisfactory state of repair and no expenditure has been incurred on them during the current year.
12. Dredging Foreshores.-The dredger has been mainly employed at Causeway Bay from which 21,458 cubic yards of materials have been removed and deposited in the Praya Reclamation Works. The Dredger and Machinery is in a satisfactory state of repair.
13. Miscellaneous Works.-The principal works carried out under this heading have been:- Providing and fixing anemometer at the signal-man's hut at the Victoria Peak including alterations to the hut. The provision of drying rooms at the Government Civil Hospital. The erection of iron railings at the Lunatic Asylums, and the construction of two wells at Yau Ma Ti and Hung Hom.
Contracts have been entered into, C.S.O. 13, for the reconstruction of the Magazine Gap Road Bridge, and for the construction of a Telescope House at the Observatory, C.S.O. 13.
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