173
No. 12
97
No. 236.
HONGKONG.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR 1896.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.
PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE, HONGKONG, 23rd April, 1897.
SIR, I have the honour to forward you the following report of the work of this department during the year 1896.
As this is probably the last annual report that I shall have the honour of submitting to you. I have, in the hope that such information may be of use to my successor, included various tables, references and opinions that under ordinary circumstances would be beyond the scope of such a report.
ANNUAL RECURRENT WORKS.
2. Repairs to Buildings.-A considerable amount of work of a miscellaneous nature has been done under this heading of account, of which the following are the more important items, viz. :—
The Government Offices, St. John's Place; extensive repairs to roof and ceilings, and painting and colourwashing have been executed.
The Central Police Station including the Captain Superintendent's House and Officers' Quarters, Police Stations Numbers 1, 5 and 7, City of Victoria, the Medical Staff Quarters, and the Markets at Wanchai, Sokonpo and Shektongtsui, have been thoroughly repaired, painted and colourwashed.
The Western Market has been extensively repaired and improvements in the shops and cookhouses executed.
At the Government Civil Hospital, painting, colourwashing and sundry repairs have been executed.
The Cattle Depôt at Kennedytown, Kennedytown Hospital, Public Laundries and the Chinese Lunatic Asylum have been colourwashed and painted.
At the Government House, Queen's College, Government Villas, Government Pavilions; and the Yaumati, Aberdeen, Tsimshatsui, Hung Hom, Mount Gough and Shaukiwan Police Stations, ordinary repairs have been executed.
3. Government Offices.-In a report to the Government Office Committee, I pointed out the present unsatisfactory condition of the accommodation available for Government Departments. The present accommodation is inadequate to meet the present requirements, and the condition of the buildings in many instances is such that, in the course of a few years, it is anticipated considerable works of reconstruction will be necessary.
4. Markets.—The question of improved Market accommodation, both in the City of Victoria and the villages, is one requiring urgent consideration. Attention has been repeatedly drawn to the condition of the Western and Saiyingpoon Markets, which require reconstruction, and to the inadequate accommodation provided by the present market at Shaukiwan.
Plans and estimates have been prepared for the erection of a New Market at Saiyingpoon on the present site, and for the extension of the Market at Shaukiwan, but I regret to say that the financial position of the Colony does not apparently admit of these works being proceeded with at present.
As regards the Western Market, its reconstruction should, if possible, be postponed pending the erection of the New Harbour Office. A considerable increase in the present market accommodation in this district is required, and the project for a new market should include the erection of buildings on the present site and also on the site of the existing Harbour Office. The question of reserving the site on the Reclamation opposite the Central Market for the erection of a Fish Market deserves consideration. Information respecting the present market accommodation and other particulars will be found in C.S.O. 1781.
5. Slaughter Bouses.-The new Slaughter Houses in the City of Victoria and at Kowloon have been maintained in a satisfactory state of repair and appear to be ample to meet requirements for some time to come, but the Sanitary Board has, on more than one occasion during the last three years, urged the construction of a slaughter house at Shaukiwan. Plans and estimates have been prepared for this work but funds are not yet available for its construction.
6. Dépôts.-The new Cattle, Pig and Sheep Depôts at Kennedytown and Kowloon have been maintained in a satisfactory state of repair and amply meet the present requirements, but the erection of a Poultry Depôt is much required. Attention has been called to the present insanitary arrange- ment of housing Poultry in the ground floors of domestic buildings in the City of Victoria, C.S.O. 1833
1895