In addition, standard fittings and other materials to the value of $6.848M were ordered through the Government Supplies Department for incorporation in the works.
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4.24 MAINTENANCE BRANCH
Government Maintenance Surveyor: K.R.R. BOYCE, F.R.I.C.S.
Chief Maintenance Surveyor: P.J. CORSER, A.R.I.C.S.
This Branch, under the overall control of the Government Maintenance Surveyor, is responsible for the maintenance of, and minor alterations or improvements to, all Government buildings (except those under the control of the Housing Department) and H.B.M. Services establishments.
4.25 The work on Government buildings is carried out by sections covering three contract areas, namely, Hong Kong Island, subdivided into eight districts, Kowloon, subdivided into eight districts and New Territories and Islands, subdivided into six districts. Each area is under the control of a Senior Maintenance Surveyor, assisted by four Maintenance Surveyors each in Hong Kong and Kowloon and three in the New Territories and Islands. A clerk of works assisted by assistant clerk of works and building foremen is responsible for the day-to-day supervision of work in a maintenance district. Work is mainly executed by term contracts based on a schedule of rates but small groups of directly employed labour have been established in major buildings and complexes to execute day-to-day and emergency repairs. This use of directly employed labour will be further expanded in due course as and when adequate technical staff can be recruited and workshop accommodation can be made available.
4.26 Maintenance of electrical and other services, under building services engineers, assisted by inspectors, assistant inspectors and foremen, is also organised on a regional basis. Checking of accounts is carried out by sections of the Quantity Surveying Branch and Building Services Branch.
4.27 The Maintenance and minor improvements of Services establishments is co-ordinated by a Senior Maintenance Surveyor and again is divided into three contract areas, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories and administered through four depots, one to each area dealing predominantly with army establishments, and the fourth depot serving the Navy and R.A.F. establishments. Each depot is controlled by a Maintenance Surveyor assisted by depot technical officers and supporting supervisory staff of clerks of works and foremen together with clerical staff. Direct labour is employed in the execution of some of the work on Services establishments. The Branch is also responsible for roads, water supplies, sewage disposal and playing fields within military areas.
4.28 Scheduled maintenance programmes were carried out on Government buildings and leased buildings and day-to-day maintenance and redecoration of quarters was carried out as necessary. Total expenditure of this work amounted to $30,653,000. Similar work was carried out on Services establishments and the portion carried out by contract amounted to $23,526,000.
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