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53. Public Latrines and Urinals.-A latrine adjoining No. 3 Police Station, Queen's Road East and containing 38 seats, begun in 1902, was completed, and another at Tai Hang Village, containing 40 seats, was begun and completed during the year.
In consequence of complaints received, special arrangements were made for ventilating the former, an electric exhaust fan being installed for the purpose. Urinal accommodation was provided in both of them, besides a room for an attendant. The three urinals referred to in last year's Report as having been delayed from various causes, namely, one in Ice House Street, one in Queen's Road under the Parade Ground, and one on the Praya near the Canton and Macao Steamboat Co.'s pier were completed. The one first mentioned replaced one on Battery Path, whilst the second replaced the iron one which had stood for some years near the north-east corner of the City Hall. Both these places having formed the sub- ject of numerous complaints, were abolished, the one on Battery Path being effaced by taking down some portions of it and building a wall to correspond with the retaining wall on the south side of the path. An iron latrine, containing 6 seats was erected at the village of Stanley in place of an old wooden one.
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54. Praya East Reclamation.-The negotiations mentioned in last year's Report were brought to a satisfactory issue with the exception of those relating to the boundary between the proposed scheme and the Naval and Military properties. These were still in progress at the close of the year, having proved to be very protracted and troublesome. In consequence of the proposed construction of the electric tramway along Praya East, it was considered advisable to proceed at once with the raising of that roadway to such a level as would admit of the drains and sewers being extended hereafter across the reclamation to the New Praya front, thus obviating the taking up and re-laying of the tramway at an early date. contract for the work was let in November, a premium being offered for its speedy completion. Very satisfactory progress was made, and by the close of the year the raising was practically completed from Arsenal Street to No. 2 Police Station, whilst a considerable amount had been done on the remaining portion of the road to the eastward. The space to be occupied by the tramway was left about a foot below the finished surface of the road so as to save the filling in and subsequent digging out of material over this area. The expenditure amounted to $13,107.95, but as it was decided to charge it to an advance account, this amount does not appear in Appendix B. It will be recovered later when the Fund for carrying out the Reclamation Scheme is established.
55. Tai Po Road. After several fruitless attempts to get the Contractor for the construction of the last 5 miles of road to complete his contract, the work was taken out of his hands. Considerable difficulty was experienced in finding an- other contractor to undertake its completion on reasonable terms and still further difficulty, after arrangements had been made, in getting the work properly carried It was however about satisfactorily completed at the close of the year.
out.
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56. City and Hill District Water-works.-The works carried out under this vote have been practically those recommended on page 17 of Mr. COOPER's Report of the 9th May, 1896, one or two items having been omitted and a number of additional items executed.
It may be useful to recapitulate the works referred to as recommended by Mr. COOPER. They are:-
(1.) Improvements of Pokfulam Conduit.
(2.) New Mains in the City and Repairs to No. 2 Tank,
(3.) Catchwater, west of Tytam Valley.
(4.) Reservoir and Catchwater, Wongneichong Gap.
(5.) Filter Beds and Service Reservoir (Bowen Road).
(6.) Service Reservoir, Peak.
The total estimated cost being $260,000.
To these, Mr. CoOPER subsequently added "Extension of Mains to North Point and Wongneichong, $7,000", the sum appearing in the Estimates for 1897 being $267,000.