APPENDIX F.F.
ANNUAL REPORT
1. This report covers the activities of the Public Works Department for the financial year ending 31st March 1948.
2. In addition to a Headquarters comprising the Administrative and Accounts Offices, Town Planning Office and Valuation and Resumptions Office, there are eight sub-departments; viz. Architectural, Buildings Ordinance, Crown Lands and Surveys, Drainage, Electrical and Mechanical (including Transport), Port Works, Roads and Water Works.
3. During the period under review all sub-departments, with the exception of Water Works, Port Works and Electrical and Mechanical were accommodated at Lower Albert Road, in a new block of temporary offices.
4. The total establishment for the Department, pensionable, non-pensionable and temporary at the end of the year amounted to 638 (514) made up of 71 (60) professional and technical officers, 81 (62) subordinate officers, 15 (14) clerical officers of Executive Grade II, (83) junior clerical grade and 360 (295) junior technical grade. In addition there was on average 2,903 daily paid staff. The bracketed figures represent the posts filled against the establishment at the end of the year. During the year 124 vacancies were filled comprising 6 Architects, 1 Engineer, 1 Quantity Surveyor, 10 Inspectors of Works, 2 Chief Draughtsmen, 2 Town Planning Architects, 1 Superintendent of Crown Lands and Surveys, 1 Assistant Engineer, 2 Temporary Third Class Assistant Land Surveyors, 2 Computers, 11 Draughtsmen, 29 Clerks, 6 Foremen, 28 Survey Coolies, 1 Watchman, 1 Cleaner, 1 Diver's Foreman, 1 Temporary Architect, 1 Temporary Assistant Structural Engineer, 4 Stenographers, 12 Drivers and 1 Junior Meter Reader.
5. On 1st February the former Electrical, Mechanical and Transport Offices were amalgamated into an Electrical and Mechanical Office under a Chief Electrical and Mechanical Engineer, who assumed responsibility for all electrical, transport and mechanical equipment and plant within the department.
6. Progress on immediately necessary rehabilitation work in the post occupation period was sufficiently advanced to enable a start to be made during the year on the normal maintenance and recurrent programmes of work, and to enable investigations and planning to proceed on many new works.
During the year Sir Patrick Abercrombie visited the Colony to prepare a report and advise on the planning and reconstruction of Hong Kong and Kowloon. Although his report and recommendations are not yet available certain preparatory work is in hand on lines indicated by Sir Patrick Abercrombie while in the Colony.
Hong Kong,
30th November, 1948.
V. KENNIFF, Director of Public Works.