8. In accordance with established practice all works were carried out by contract and it can be said that the competitive tendering and overall high quality of workmanship reflected favourably on the contractors.
9. Total expenditure by the Department amounted to $174,614,000.00 compared with $160,212,000.00 for the previous year. A break-down of departmental expenditure over the last ten years is presented in paragraph 357 of this report.
TRAINING
10. In furtherance of the policy of providing training facilities for artisans and young professional engineers an additional fifteen youths between the ages of fifteen and seventeen signed agreements whereby they will be given a sandwich course of instruction over a three-year period in the waterworks or mechanical workshops and the Technical College. This brought the total number of craft apprentices up to forty-four.
11. Seven engineering graduates from the Hong Kong University were indentured to the Director on behalf of the Institution of Civil Engineers to assist them in gaining practical experience leading to Associate Membership of the Institution. Three graduates in architecture signed similar agreements.
12. During the summer vacation the usual six Hong Kong University engineering students were attached to various sub-departments for training.
VISITING OFFICIALS
13. Inspections of the Tai Lam Chung Water Supply Scheme and the new Kai Tak Airport project were made by Mr. Eugene Melville, C.M.G., Assistant Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, during his visit to the Colony in March.
14. In the same month we were honoured by a visit of the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Sir Arthur Whitaker and the Secretary, Mr. Alexander McDonald, who were en route to the Commonwealth Engineering Conference in Australia.
15. In June the Department was favoured with a visit from Sir George Seel, K.C.M.G., Senior Crown Agent and Mr. R. W. Taylor, C.M.G., Engineer-in-Chief and Engineering Adviser to the Secretary of State.
16. Another visitor from the Crown Agents was Mr. P. H. Pearce, A.M.I.E.E., Inspecting Engineer.
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