of the Electrical and Mechanical Office which was started towards the end of the last year has been implemented as far as the staffing position permitted. New divisions replaced the former Mechanical and Electrical Divisions and are now known as the 'Design and Projects' and 'Operation and Maintenance' Divisions. These re-organizations will result in more efficient use of staff and allow for their expansion to meet increased work programmes.
1.10. Expenditure on Public Works Department non-recurrent and recurrent items, excluding personal emoluments, totalled $385 million compared with $391 million in 1968-69. Although there was a significant increase in recurrent expenditure, the expenditure on Public Works non-recurrent items dropped from $292 million to $284 million. This was due to a $37 million drop in Waterworks expenditure, mainly as a result of the completion of major projects and the re-appraisal of programmes for the next few years.
1.11. While expenditure on building and civil engineering works was more than that of the previous year, it was nevertheless below expectations because of contractors' financial difficulties. During the year, six contracts had to be re-entered and this further underlined the need for a re-appraisal of the financial stability of those contractors approved to undertake Government contracts. There now exists a procedure for examining the audited accounts of P.W.D. contractors and if it is established that a contractor does not have resources sufficient to carry out Government contracts, appropriate action is taken. This action can take one of several forms, e.g., down-grading the contractor, suspension from tendering, or limiting the volume of contract work to a level commensurate with the contractor's financial resources.
1.12. A continuous 24-hour water supply was maintained throughout the year despite extremely low rainfall after August. However, to conserve water in the older reservoirs, more use had to be made of Plover Cove water. This involved enlarging temporarily the pumping capacities of the River Indus, Tai Po Tau, and Sha Tin Pumping Stations.
1.13. Tenders were called for the raising of the Plover Cove dams and spillways to increase its capacity from 37,378 M.G. to 51,778 M.G., and a contract was let for the site investigations for the tunnels and dams of the High Island Scheme which will form a new 60,000 M.G. reservoir in the sea on the lines of Plover Cove. Contract documents
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