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REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
FOR THE YEAR 1948-1949.
1. This report covers the activities of the Public Works Department for the financial year ending 31st March, 1949.
2. In addition to a Headquarters comprising the Administrative and Accounts Offices, Town Planning Office and Valuation and Resumption Office, there are eight sub-departments viz:- Architectural, Buildings Ordinance, Crown Lands and Surveys, Drainage, Electrical & Mechanical (including Transport), Port Works, Roads and Water Works.
3. During the period under review the erection of further temporary offices made it possible to remove the Port Works Office to Lower Albert Road, leaving only the Water Works Office and the Electrical & Mechanical Office in separate office units.
4. The total establishment for the Department, pensionable, non-pensionable and temporary at the end of the year amounted to 708 (593) made up of 74 (64) professional and technical officers, 79 (75) subordinate officers, 15 (14) clerical officers of Executive grade, 155 (155) junior clerical grade and 173 (133) junior technical grade and 212 (156) junior non-technical grade. In addition there was on average 3054 daily paid staff. The bracketed figures represent the posts filled against the establishment at the end of the year.
During the year 48 vacancies were filled comprising 1 Assistant Director of Public Works, 1 Architect, 2 Assistant Engineers, 2 Building Surveyors, 24 Clerks, 1 Draughtsman, 1 Engineer, 1 Structural Engineer, 1 Clerk of Works, 1 Inspector of Works, 2 Temporary Inspector of Works, 1 Land Bailiff, 2 Land Surveyors, 2 Junior Meter Readers, 1 Motor Driver, 1 Temporary Transport Supervisor, and 4 Woman Confidential Assistants.
Whilst
5. Pressure on the Department continued unabated. normal maintenance and recurrent programmes of work referred to in last year's report became firmly established, new works which were then being planned reached the stage of construction. This applied not only to Government building and engineering projects, but to private works as well, all of which reflected in varying degrees on the volume of the work of the Department.
A more detailed comparison of expenditure with previous years is contained in Annexures Nos. I to VI at the end of this report.
ANDREW NICOL,
Acting Director of Public Works.
Hong Kong,
August 27th, 1949.
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