9.33. During the months from June to November four landslips totalling about 30,000 tons of earth and boulders occurred at Hok Yuen Quarry. As the landslips were anticipated and precautions taken by accelerating their movement with explosives there were no casualties or damage to property.
9.34. Investigations were carried out to find a suitable site on the Mainland for the reprovisioning of Hok Yuen Quarry where the supply of good quality rock for the production of aggregate had become almost exhausted.
9.35. Other works undertaken by the quarry staff included:
(i) Supervision of private quarries operated on contract.
(ii) Inspection of prospective quarry sites and those already operated on permit and presenting proposals for their future.
(iii) Technical advice to District Commissioner, New Territories, and the Superintendent of Crown Lands and Survey on quarries operated on permit.
(iv) Removal of reported dangerous boulders requiring the use of explosives.
(v) Technical advice to the Director of Fire Services on matters pertaining to the issue of Category I Dangerous Goods Licences (Explosives)—This responsibility was assumed by the Commissioner of Mines on the 1st January.
9.36. TRENCHES
The Trenches Section of Roads Office was established to deal with all matters concerning the openings and reinstatement of trenches throughout the Colony.
9.37. At the monthly meetings of the Road Opening Co-ordinating Committee the representatives of the Utility Companies, the Services and Public Works sub-departments met to discuss the timing of trench works in relation to roadworks and traffic, and other relevant matters.
9.38. Regular inspections of all trench openings and the supervision of reinstatement works were made to ensure that proper lighting at night, guarding, back-filling and surfacing were being provided and that vehicular and pedestrian traffic were not being unduly obstructed or endangered. Where infringements of regulations were observed, action was taken to put matters right. Works involving major traffic routes were planned to be carried out at times and at a rate calculated to cause minimum traffic obstruction.
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