repainting all exposed steelwork. During the year a skilled direct labour gang was employed for six months on the restoration of deteriorated reinforced concrete sub-structures by means of guniting, three piers having been so treated.
118. Work on sea walls and defences was of a minor character only. Typhoon damage necessitated the relaying of part of the pitched slope sea defences at Green Island and the repair of an old sea wall at Shaukiwan Fish Market.
119. The sheltered waters of Hong Kong Harbour are normally self-cleansing but, due to heavy soil erosion during typhoon rains, small areas near to stormwater outfalls tend to silt up. During the year these deposits were removed by regular maintenance dredging with two 5/8 cubic yards Priestman Grab Dredgers which worked in conjunction with four 200 cubic yard hopper barges and two powerful tugs. The barges were emptied hydraulically over the 16 acre refuse dump in Kowloon Bay by means of a 12″ diameter pumping set, mounted on a floating pontoon and capable of pumping 130 tons of sand, silt and mud per hour. This material covered the refuse dump with a thin layer of sand and silt which considerably reduced the fly and mosquito breeding nuisance.
120. In addition, the dredgers were engaged on the removal of underwater rocks after blasting, deepening the approach waters to Tai O and Cheung Chau, dredging foundation trenches for the canal wall at Causeway Bay and dredging rubble from the existing Causeway Bay breakwater to dump in the causeway to Kellett Island. A total of 180,000 cubic yards of material was dredged during the year.
New Construction
121. One of the most ambitious reclamation projects since the war is the Causeway Bay Reclamation Scheme. This project, when completed, will provide 55 acres of level ground urgently required for recreational purposes on Hong Kong
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