5.13
Chief Building Surveyor, New Territories (East): J.C. HOWLETT, A.R.I.B.A.
Chief Building Surveyor, New Territories (West): C.H. RILEY, A.R.I.C.S.
Chief Structural Engineer:
H.C. HO, B.Sc.(National Sun Yuet Sun Univ.), C.Eng., F.I.Struct.E.
The principal function of the General Divisions is to scrutinise and approve all plans for private buildings and street works, to grant consent to commence work, to carry out periodical inspections during construction and to inspect and issue occupation permits on completion.
5.14
Although the number of occupation permits issued in the year under review represented an increase of 5% compared with the previous year, the declared cost of completed buildings amounted to $1,869M, which represented an increase of some 20% over the previous year. Whilst the declared cost of buildings completed was the highest on record, there was a substantial decrease in the number of building proposals approved; a total of 643 compared with the previous year's record of 1,185.
5.15 In spite of the reduction in private building development, many projects of major importance to the economy of Hong Kong were approved, amongst which the Dow Chemical projects on Tsing Yi Island, and the Phillips Industrial Building at Kwai Chung are particularly noteworthy.
5.16
During the year, the Structural Engineering Branch completed the clearance of a substantial backlog of structural plans awaiting processing. This was affected by an increase in structural engineering professional staff and the services of Messrs. Harris and Sutherland, Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers, London, who were commissioned in 1973 to assist in checking structural plans. The Agreement with the Consultant was terminated following completion of this work.
5.17
CIVIL ENGINEERING DIVISION
Chief Civil Engineer:
K.C. BRIAN-BOYS, C.Eng., M.I.C.E.
The Civil Engineering Division came into being in 1974, replacing the Civil Engineering Unit set up in the latter part of 1972 to deal with Civil Engineering aspects of private development, in particular site formation works, following the June 1972 landslip disasters.
5.18
The Civil Engineering Division checks all new proposals to ensure that they do not create geotechnical problems for existing or future development and that dangerous situations are avoided during construction. The Division also examines and advises on what action must be taken when potential or existing dangerous situations come to light.
46