76. Typhoon and Rainstorm Damage:-As the Colony was not visited by any major typhoons and attendant rainstorms of a severe nature, less repairs than in a normal year were necessary. The major portion of the work involved the cleansing of the many large nullahs of sand deposits and boulders washed down from the adjacent undeveloped areas within their respective catchments. All usable and clean sand deposits were removed by the Controller of Stores to be sold for building purposes. The main nullahs which required cleansing were at Wong Nei Chong, Taikoo, Bowrington Canal and Sookunpoo on the Island, and in Kowloon those at Kai Tak, Kowloon Tong, and along Lai Chi Kok, Castle Peak and Waterloo Roads.
77. Restoration of Anti-Malarial Works:-The several large areas on the Island which had previously been fully trained and drained to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes were given much needed attention to maintain the systems in working order. The chief areas treated were at Mt. Parker, Lyemun, Sookunpoo, Stanley, Aberdeen Valley and The Peak. Anti-malarial flushing tanks were also re-serviced and put in working condition.
78. Anti-Malarial Works:—A commencement was made during the year on permanent anti-malarial nullah training. The area selected on the advice of the Malarial Bureau was at Telegraph Bay on the south side of the Island. The untrained streamcourse which meandered through a low-lying matshed village was within a half-mile radius of Queen Mary Hospital. It was therefore considered essential that any mosquito and fly-breeding nuisance be eliminated. The work involved was the construction of 420 feet of 9'6" x 5'6" section of cement concrete open nullah, 360 feet of 6'0" x 4'9" section, and 400 feet of 5'0" x 3'9" section. Minor subsidiary works along the full length of 1180 feet were completed.
79. Restoration of Sewers and Storm Water Drains:-Major repairs were carried out in many districts to damaged services to enable them to function again. During the year much faulty Japanese work was discovered and made good. All worn surface castings which could be attributed to the previous five years' lack of maintenance were replaced. Cast iron sewers and hatch-boxes which are exposed to the weather were repainted. The restoration of 392 lineal feet of 9" and 6" diameter sewers was undertaken and completed in Hong Kong and 809 lineal feet of sewers from 48" to 6" diameter in Kowloon.
80. Clearing of Drains and Nullahs:--General clearance of all main sewers, open nullahs and storm-water drains of deposits of sand, silt and debris which had accumulated over the past few years was made and excavated materials conveyed to approved dumps. Many thousands of cubic yards of surplus materials were handled. Numerous landslides and slips into these drains of Japanese deposited materials which had been unprotected from rainstorms were also removed.