2.06. Each architectural group dealt principally with the new building programme for specific Government departments, while other buildings designated 'general' buildings were distributed amongst the groups. This system of allocating the building programme of a specific department to a particular group simplified liaison with the departments concerned and, without undue specialization, enabled each group to continue building up a background of experience of the building requirements of the client departments, thereby facilitating a better output of work.
2.07. Early consultations on all projects were held between architects, structural, electrical and air-conditioning engineers, and quantity surveyors. In the same way, comments and advice from the Maintenance Section on the behaviour of materials were also available. Quantity Surveying Section
2.08. This section was responsible for the preparation of estimates, bills of quantities and contract documents, the measurement and valuation of variations and the settlement of interim and final payments. Work on 54 contracts for 41 capital projects valued at $55 million was carried out by the Section; of these, bills of quantities were prepared by private quantity surveyors for 8 contracts totalling $26 million. A further 44 contracts were let for 20 resettlement and low-cost housing projects to a total value of $162 million and 29 miscellaneous contracts which totalled $1 million.
Structural Engineering Section
2.09. The work undertaken by this section shows an increase over the previous year. 127 projects consisting of 427 separate buildings were in hand for the design of the structural work; 61 projects comprising 192 buildings were designed and built; 42 projects with 149 buildings were still under construction and 24 projects with 86 buildings were at the design stage.
2.10. One building under construction at the Police Training School merits particular mention. The structure is a drill shed constructed in steel, designed on the plastic theory, with rigid frames spanning 84 feet between the stanchions and 22 feet cantilevers on both sides. It is probably the first building in Hong Kong employing high-strength friction-grip bolt construction.
Building Services Section
2.11. Apart from the design, specification and supervision of electrical, air-conditioning and lift installations for all Architectural Office
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