CHAPTER 9
WORKS DIVISION
97. The Works Division's main task is the maintenance of resettle- ment estates, factories, cottages and resite areas. This work can be split into two sections, namely, building and electrical maintenance. Estate buildings in particular suffer from considerable wear and tear because of the high population density, and 250 major and 56,318 minor repair jobs were necessary during the year. In addition to day-to-day main- tenance, the Division carried out the following phased programme of works:
(i) repainting of 47 blocks in estates;
(ii) replacement of cast iron plumbing installations with plastic pipes
and vitreous china salt water resistant equipment;
(iii) replacement of stopcocks and spring-loaded taps with special
'Waste Not' taps;
(iv) installation of water submains to provide individual water supply
to ground floor shops in the older estates;
(v) provision of additional storage space under staircases for use by
sanitation staff;
(vi) repairs to concrete suffering from spalling, i.e. corrosion of steel
reinforcing bars.
98. As was mentioned in paragraph 96, frequent electrical failures in resettlement factories, caused by overloading, occurred during the year and the electrical section, under the control of an assistant elec- trical engineer seconded from the Public Works Department's archi- tectural office was kept busy with repairs. In addition to dealing with the normal electrical day-to-day maintenance and complaints from domestic and shop premises and factories, the electrical section made a start on a phased programme to replace manually-operated switches for public lighting by automatic time-switches. The programme will take 3 to 4 years to complete. The section has also been installing the additional rising mains and moulded circuit breakers in existing factories.
99. In the cottage areas, only government-owned cottages and build- ings (e.g. latrines, offices, stores) are maintained. The division's chief commitment here lies in the maintenance of paths, steps, surface drains, terraces and hill slopes which are liable to serious damage during
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