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162. Cross Harbour Passenger Traffic:- Ways and means, supported by tentative designs and estimates, were examined for a solution of the acute problem of relieving the congestion existing in the annual transport of some 80 million passengers by the two Operating Companies. A new ferry service between Tonnochy Road, Wanchai, and Jordan Road, Kowloon was inaugurated on 12th November, 1949 by the Hong Kong & Yaumati Ferry Co., Ltd. Work of converting the Tonnochy Road Pier into a ferry pier commenced on 29th September, 1949 and was carried out under the Maintenance Contract.
163. Current Observations:- Tidal Observations off Holt's Wharf, Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock, North Point Quarry Wall, Wanchai Praya and Jubilee Street Pier were carried out with the old type of floats. With a modified type of float observations were taken off Tsim Sha Tsui, North Point and South Bay.
164. Miscellaneous:- The establishment of an automatic tide recording gauge and the taking of vehicular traffic census for information and record were part of routine works, as were the location, sounding and submarine examination of underwater obstructions on behalf of the Marine Department.
165. Reclamation Schemes, Survey Parties:- (a) Land Borings:- Investigating the possibility of obtaining spoil from neighbouring hills for a large scale reclamation project at Tsun Wan, some 3,100 lineal feet of bores were sunk with two rigs in the field, while a contour survey of the terrain was carried out by a survey party. (b) Submarine Borings:- Investigations of submarine foundation conditions were carried out at Marsh Road, Cheung Chau, Tai O, West Point and North Point to provide data for the design and estimates for tentative schemes in respect of piers and reclamations at these sites.
ROADS AND TUNNELS OFFICE.
Public Works Recurrent.
166. General:- The continued increase in the number of vehicles, especially in the case of the Military, on all roads in the Colony in conjunction with deterioration as a result of lack of maintenance during the Japanese occupation resulted in a heavy programme of work being undertaken and completed. The weather was on the whole better than average and only a small amount of typhoon and rainstorm damage occurred. The current maintenance contracts showed decreases in percentage rates above schedule prices as compared with those in force at the end of last year. The quarries maintained adequate production and a noteworthy performance was given by the old