the operation of the two Government Quarries, the administration of contract quarries, advice on quarrying matters generally, the operation of the P.W.D. Laboratories providing a materials-testing service to Government and the public, and the collection and sale of natural sand. Details of quarry production, laboratory tests, sand sales and revenue earned by the Quarries Section are given in Appendix S.
Government Quarries
6.63 The Government Quarries at Diamond Hill in Kowloon and Mount Butler on Hong Kong Island are operated by directly-employed labour to produce asphalt and bitumen macadam for road works, and aggregates for making concrete. In response to increased demands for materials for Government construction works, output was increased and total production was 25% higher than the previous year.
6.64 Plans were formulated to meet future growth in demand as predicted from the five-year programmes of the Civil Engineering and Highways Offices. Orders were placed for modern high-capacity crushing plant for Mount Butler Quarry and designs were in hand for similar improvements to Diamond Hill Quarry.
Private Quarries
6.65 Implementation of Government Policy for replacing small quarries held on short-term Crown Lands Permits by large-scale quarries operated on long-term contracts continued. One new contract quarry came into full production during the year and the other five all increased output to meet the continuing high demands.
6.66 Three quarries operated on short-term permits were closed, leaving only six still in production at the end of the year; dates during the coming year for closing these remaining quarries were agreed. Production from the established quarries continued to be supplemented by ancillary crushing plants operating on works sites which process the stone that is extracted in levelling building sites.
Sand Monopoly
6.67 The Sand Monopoly operates to protect beaches and river banks by regulating the collection and sale of natural sand. Most of the sand used in building is dredged from the seabed by a Government Contractor and is sold to the public through the Sand Monopoly
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