6.68 Plans were being drawn up for doubling the line between Sha Tin and Tai Po Market and for remodelling Mong Kok, Sha Tin and University Stations and for the construction of a branch line to a station at the proposed race course at Ho Tung Lau, Sha Tin.
QUARRIES SECTION
Senior Engineer:
T.D. ARMOUR, B.Sc., C.Eng., M.I.C.E.
R.H. PILLING, C.Eng., M.I.C.E. (From 11.9.74)
General
6.69 The Quarries Section is directly responsible to the Principal Government Civil Engineer for the operation of the two Government quarries, the collection and sale of natural sand, administration of contract quarries, control of site crushing equipment, operation of the P.W.D. Materials Testing Laboratories and advising on quarrying and related matters.
Details of quarry production, sand sales, laboratory tests and revenue earned by the Quarries Section are given in Appendix S.
Government Quarries
6.70 Both Diamond Hill Quarry in Kowloon and Mount Butler Quarry on Hong Kong Island are operated by directly employed labour to produce crushed stone and bituminous materials for road works, and aggregates for making concrete for the P.W.D. Diamond Hill Quarry also has a plant for the production of ready-mixed concrete, used mostly as lean concrete in road works.
6.71 Production of crushed stone at both quarries was less than the previous year due to a fall in demand although the reduced demand was more pronounced at the Diamond Hill plant. Coated stone production was also well down at this plant but only slightly less at Mount Butler Quarry.
6.72 The average price of coated stone was increased by approximately 35% from January 1975, due primarily to increases in the cost of bitumen caused by the international oil crisis.
6.73 A new asphalt mixing plant was installed at Diamond Hill Quarry toward the end of the year, capable of producing 80 tonnes per hour of coated stone. This, together with the existing plant, will be able to meet expected future demand for coated stone on the mainland for proposed highway projects and maintenance works. In January the first items of two new sets of dust collection plant were delivered for installation in the existing asphalt mixing plants at both quarries. When installed this equipment will increase the efficiency of dust removal and considerably reduce the level of atmospheric pollution.
6.74 A report was submitted in September 1974 by the Organisation and Methods Group of Finance Branch who had been asked to examine existing systems controlling the movement and recording of quarry products. The report recommended certain changes designed to reduce the amount of paperwork required and improve both security and speed of flow of products from the quarries. The recommendations have been adopted and will be implemented in the coming year.
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