HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1931.
THE PRAYA EAST RECLAMATION.
ENGINEER'S FINAL SUMMARY OF A GREAT ENTERPRISE.
༩
OVER TWO MILLION SQUARE FEET OF LAND FROM THE SEA,
A final report on the Praya East Reclamation Scheme has been issued by the Public Works Department. The Hon. Mr. H. T. Creasy, O.B.E., contributes a foreword, and the main body of the report is the work of Mr. A. Anderson, the Engineer in Charge,
་
The matter-of-fact statement, part of which is reprinted here, with ite mases of figures, represents a great engineering achievement, persisted with through 'great difficulties and culminat- ing in the creation of two and a quarter million square fect of building land. The Roslamation was the only way in which Hong Kong could continue its potential development, and the enterprise is typical of the akili, resource and pertinacity which has built up this great centre
of commerce.
DRAINAGE PROBLEMS AND MORRISON HILL BOULDERS
WERE DEALT WITH.
The Hon Mr. H. T. Creasy, C.B.E. writes as follows:
Mr. Adam Anderson, B.E. B.A., n.U.I., (the Engineer who bas, throughout, beet associated with this Scheme and who for the most
The Praya East Neolamation Scheme was under consideration part has been the officer in charge as far back as 1897 and at that of the work)-in his final report time the Director of Public Works, now submitted-gives full particu
Cars of the various alterations Mr. Ormsby, C.M.G., sounded a
ngocssitated during the progress of note of warning to the promotors the work and the causes for the of the scheme with regard to the inorenaed cost over the original large amount of rock that might | Estimate due to the many difficul- be found in Morrison Hill and 'pointed out thas such development on the Island would be a very heavy the then inadequate
ties met with.
Although the final cost of the land per sq. ft. to the participats viz, 82.41 is in excess of the cost originally estimated in 1021 viz. 81.505-1he scheme has proved to be in ovory way a very profitable un- dertaking.
The interests of the participants have been carofully guardod throughout and they have received from time to time the full benefits
from the rents obtained for lands
temporarily occupied during con.
tax
upon water supply.
Due to the untiring efforts of Sir Paul Chater, Kt., C.M.G., the scheme ultimately received the sanction of Government in 1921 and resulted in the resumption of Morrison Hill and the passing of the Priya East Reclamation Or dinance No. 17 of 1921. After which the work was put in land and carried to completion in 1930struction and all interest on any by the Public Works Department sumg lying to the credit of the on behalf of the participants the Fraya East Reabmation account. Government being one of the in- These credits amount to approxi- terested parties.
imately 8457,000 and participanta'. Certain accessory works cannot contributions have been according- be undertaken until the Royally reduced by this amount equival Naval Arsenal Yard is romoved toont to approximately $20,20 per sq. Stonecutters but these have been ft. of allotted aren provided for on an agreed Estimate with the Naval Authorities so that it has been, possible to ascertain the final cost of the work so se to enable lot holders to obtain their Crown leases.
The supervision charges includo the payments made for the services of this clorks of work and Chinese foremen employed to supervise the construction, The amount debited. to the cost of the work is very re asonable and in accordance with the Ordinance.
"NOW COMPLETED,"
Mr. A. Anderson in the course of his report says:--
Big Drainage Problem,
'In addition to the construction of the sea will and piers and the actual filling in required for the Reclamation, the whole of the old drainage system as far back as The construction of the above Queen's Road Enst which dis- Scheme is now completed except charged at the old Praya bound the works included in the Recon- ary had to be lifted so as to obstruction of Buildings, Boundary' tain the necessary outfalls on tho | Walls, &c., rendered necessary by line, of the now sea wall, this neces- the Exchange of land "at MR.N. sitated not only the raising of the Arsenal Yard, together with a roads with all sowers and storm small amount of surfacing to the Water drains but also the ground new roadways. The new sites. for floor levels of some of the old the reconstruction of the Arsená! housa
Yard Buildings and Boundary Wails have not been selected, it is not possible therefore to put this had contemplated constructing a work in hand. Agreement low- roadway from the Grand Stand at over has been reached with the
·Happy Valley to Tonnochy Road Naval Authorities as to the cost. with storm water culverte to take of carrying out this work. the Wongneichong Valley Drainage.surfacing of roadways is being car This scheme had to bo abandoned ried out under Contract and is now owing to the obstruction caused by nearing completion, thus enabling the large core of solid rock re the cost of the uncompleted work maining on the site of Morrison to be ascertained definitely.
On completion of the Praya East Reclamation Scheme, Government
Hill after all suitable filling for the reclamation had been removed. The drainage was accordingly car riod in its original course dis- charging onto the reclamation area at the Bowrington Canal Bridge which had to be reconstructed to meet the new conditions. GA 30 feet wide nullahan authorized: Work under the Schomo-provides for the drainage through the reclamation to the sen front necessitating bridge con» neating the ronds crossing the New Reclamation.
The
Th principal works carried out and comprised in the Scheme are as follows:-
inches at low mater. The Quay Wall is connected to Admiralty wharfago by the construction of a reinforced concrete wharf 3 foet in length. The Quay Wall and wharf were handed over to the Naval Authorities, on completion of construction.
The following Statement, gives details of the estimate together, with the actual cost of the work:
1.-Reclamation and Sea Walls, includ
ing filling in Bowrington Canal and the Royal Naval Camber, Public Piers to replace the piers at Tin Lok Lane and Arsenal Stroot, Rofuse Boat Pier to replace the pier at Ship Street, and adjustment of Tram- way TrackIRANNÍK II.-Dredging
Estimated coat in August
Atcual cost of work."
I, and II. (A).-Bonus III-Drainage works on the Neeluma-
tion Area ingenia IV.-Reconstruction and adjustment of
drainage on the back areas affected by the proposed reclamation.......................... V-Water Mains ditto ditto VI.—Roads—Forming, korbing, channel!-
1010..
SHIPBUILDERS, SHIP REPAIRERS, BOILER MAKERS, FORGE MASTERS;
OXY-ACETYLENE AND ELECTRIC WELDERS,
81,794,500.00 $9,070,458.00 28,800.00 71,763.74
921,070.88
462,900.00
705,580.80
MECHANICAL AND
ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERS.
300,000,00 128,000.00
303,208.33 0,270.21
ing, surfacing of now roads and adjustment of level of roads in back. areas affected by the reclamation...... 318,563,35
VII. Reconstruction of Buildings, Boundary Walls, etc., rendered neces sary by exchange of Land at R.N. Arsenal Yard .........
VIII-Amount chargeable to → works and appearing in Treasury Books under "Praya East Reclamation Echome, Advance Account". IX. Supervision
Total amount Estimate say
In 1921 a contract for the whole of the works included in items I. and III. of the Estimate, except
518,970.50
60,220.00
£34,259.00
64,600.84
105,541.84
243,070,38
200,000.00
83,383,680.10 $5,421,403.38
3,385,000.00
On March 5, 1825, Government
authorized a Committee of En. gineers to enquire into the various
the adjustment of the Tramway rates paid under the Contract and Track, was awarded to Moara.the progress made in the execution Sang Lee & Co., whose tender was of the work. The Committee re the lowest at $9,807,890, being ported inter alía:- 81,839,371 for the works under itam 1. and 457,932 for tho works under item. III.
thoroughly investigated the con- "We, the undersigned, having
ditions under which the work (c) The construction of two pub
When tho Praya East Reclama of the Praya East Reclame- lie piera in reinforced con- tion Scheme was under consideration is being carried on, have form- grete, one of these is situated tion, it was ascertained that theed the opinion that the rates now at the end of Fenwick Road, volume of material in Morrison paid under the Contract are very and is built T. shaped, it projecte m distance of 41 fect Hill was ample for the require considerably below the rates ruling 4 inchos from έξιο seaments of reclamation, and the late under current conditions and that wall cope and providos at its Sir Paul Chater, acting on behalf a fair and reasonable adjustment outor faco á borth of similar
on all work executed subsequent to February 28, 1025.
length; the other pier is 120 of Lotholders interested in the can only be achieved by the pay- foot 8
inchos long and Scheme, made strong representation i ment of a bonus of 78 per cent. 35 feet 4 inches wide with to Government that the site waS four flights of Innding stopa
over and above the Contract prices situated at the end of Ton-the most advantageous from which nochy Road.
to obtain the filling matoriale. Gov- (2) A Refuse Boat Pier project-ernment accordingly resumed vari
ing 58 foot from the Cope at ous leases to make Morrison Hill the end of Fleming Road. available for filling. This pier is constructed in sloping blockwork and pro- vides 60 feet of berthage on its outer face having a depth of 18 feet of water below Ordnance. Datum,
When the Contractor had been operating for about 13 years large
We are also of the opinion that the Contract time should be ex- tended by a further period of one year which would permit the com pletion of the Contract by January 31, 1929.
The bonus award of 70 per cent. became effective on March 1, 1925.
arops of boulders appeared in the faces of the cuttings; the removal (e) The filling in of the recal of these boulders not only added mation area, Naval Cambor considerably to the expense of ob- and Bowrington Canal, retaing filling but slowed down the quiring 3,111,000 cube yards of filing material. This rate of progress to such an extent material was obtained from that to maintain progress consiston Morrison Hill, East Point with completing the work within Hill and other sources such Contract timp, it was necessary for As the spoil from works un-
The total area reclaimed under der construction. ·
the Contractor to operate late into the Boheme including Bowrington
The work of dredging trenches for the foundations of the sea wall was carried out departmentally as
cost of $71,753.74,
(f) The construction of a number the night, Conditions graduallyCanal and the Naval Camber of langtha of sowers on became worse and the Contractor amounted to * approximately: the Reclamation Area, #
reported in March, 1994, that be 3,730,000 8.F. () Threa reinforced conereto was unable to carry through the
The reclamation cost 81.45, per' bridgea ware constructed to work at his Contract rate of 80.23.
square foot. apan the Bowrington Nullah and the bridge at Leighton The Engineer in Charge, after Hill Road was reconstructed. investigation of the circumstances, Of these bridges, that оп Henney Road in 100 fect roommended a bonus of 23 per
wide and carries a double liae cent, on the Contract rates. Gov-
The area of the reclamation taken up by streets amounts to 1,380,335 S. F. approx.
In connection with the increase
of tram track, the bridges ernment authorised this bonus to in the dimensions of Stormwater on Lockhart and Gloucester effect from April 1, 1924. The drainage provision on the Reclama- Roads are each 75 feet wide.
The level of Leighton Hill contractor, however, did not contion, Government has given up n Road was raised, this involved sider the bonus of 25 per cent. the reconstruction of
strip of land 8,000 sq. ft. in area the adequate compensation for the un- Leighton Hill Road Bridge foreseen difficulties encountered in
to provide space for the 36 feet wide (4) The reconstruction and widen- obtaining the filling materials and
Bowrington Nullah and satisfac- ing of a length of about 2,300 foot of the old Praya Enst for the increase in the cost of labour tory widths of roadway on each side roadway (now Johnston Road) since the commencement of the. to a width of 75 feet and a
further length of about 3,000 Contract. In December, 1924, the feet of this road (now part of Contractor reported that he was Hennessey Road) to
width losing beavily notwithstanding the of 100 foot. The construction 95 per cent, on his contract rates of 2,000 foot of 100 feet road- way and about 13,648 lineal and would be unable to complete. fect of 75 feet roadway. the work unless granted further (1) The water maine laid in con- consideration.
nection with the Scheme in- cluded:-3,900 lineal feet of -18" diameter mains, 780 linead foot of 8" diameter mains, and 18,700 linen! feet of " diameter mains. .. ·
(n) The reconstruction of the old Praya East Roadway neces- sitated the taking up and ro- laying of the Tramway, track for a distance of about 5,000 lineal feet.
The works referred to in items (g) and (i) and portion of the works in (f) were undertaken by the Drainage Office. The works re (a) The construction of 4,005 ferred to in (a) were undertaken lineal foct of sea- wall found by the Roads Office, and the works ed on poll-moll rubble found.) dations deposited in enenches under items. (1) and (m) by the drudged to depths ranging Water Works, Office and Tramway between 21 feet and 31 fest Co respectively. below Ordnance Datum, ..
The value of
be borne
by participants in the above Schema was estimated in August 1019 at $3,385,000 squivalent to $1,503 for
lineal lot of Quay: Wall in loping blockwork on the sex. ward limit of the old Naval Camber and at the Western forming each square foot of area sxtremity of tho; son, wall. The depth of water alongside to be alloted to participants in the the Quay Wall is 10 fect 10 Boheme.
of the Nuljah.
The cost to participants of re claiming the areas which they have been allotted under the Scheme amounts to 62.41 per 8.F.
Costs as per original estimates: 81.605 per 8.F.
Excess 80,005 par S.F.
FACTS AND FIGURES
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