Second Section
Hongkong Telegraph
Magazine Featur
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1940,
AIR RAID TUNNELS
Hongkong is being protected against air raids by the strangest and most simple shelters in the world-tunnels bored into the colony's rocky hills.
These are no academic shelters worked out in the offices of draughtsmen and inventors. They were evolved in hard warfare, in the middle of air raids by the people of shattered Chungking.
There they proved themselves the most effective prevention of all against the Japanese onslaught. And Hongkong, finding it had similar terrain to work on is to have shelters of the same sort.
The Director of Air Raid Precautions, Wing Commander A. H. Steele-Perkins, flew to Chungking to inspect the Chinese tunnels. Almost as soon as he returned the Government let contracts for the first experimental tunnels in Hongkong.
How many of these are to be driven into the hills of Hong- kong and Kowloon has not been revealed. They are being push- ed forward rapidly and it is suggested that ultimately there may be enough of this type to. -shelter every man, woman and
child in the colony.
The depth of each tunnel- and its costs will depend on the type of rock the workers encounter as they press for- ward..
The experimental tunnels, il-. lustrated on this page are ́each. designed to accommodate 1000 people.
The first tunnels were started
a few weeks ago in Wanchai, near the Hongkong Bank, the Ellis Kadoorie School and other points.
Near Battery path tunnels a series of tunnels is being dug into the rocky hills about 100 yards apart.
Each tunnel will have at least 40 feet of solid rock above it- ample protection against nerjal bombs.
Two Entrances to Tunnels
The tunnels are ten feet across at the entrances and will be roughly the same dimensions throughout their length.
At a certain depth cross tun- nels will be driven, forming a U-shape.
The advantage of this shape is that it provides two entrances to each shelter, allowing shel terers to get out should a bomb- blast close one entrance;
As the scheme is developed, It is intended to drive the shafts
deeper, make more oross gal-: leries. This would increase the -number of entrances and exits avallable and, allow those shelter. ing a greater comfort,
The first stage of the work
Air Raid Tunnel at Blake Gardens is being built as an experiment. Workmen
on this tunnel are following the Chungking plan using only picks, shovels and black
Chinese powder.-Ming. Yuen,
How the tunnels aro constructed. The picture was taken at Queen's Road, Central. Ming Yuen,
One of the U-shape air-raid' tunnels being driven
the hills near the Ellis. Kadoorie School,Ming
Tunnels are being erected in tion, two air-raid
tunnels
Pen-type shelter, built on sand-filled concrete blocks. Twenty of these are being constructed in Canal Road, West-Ming Yuen, are Canal Road, West, between Hen-
Road Some are almost com-
Ons of the new air-raid tunnels in Queen's Road, East. In all 14 tunnels are
being driven in the Colony.-Ming Yuen,
One of the compressor machines being used for rapid constr
be reviewed before the tunnel scheme ta extended, he said.
Some other form of protection may have to be provided.
In some cases the spots chosen, for boring operations have pro ed unfortunate as water has been struck but in other places good progress has been male, A depth of 12 to 15 feet has been recorded in one day.
provides for substantial en- other parts of the colony. Two being dug into the hills nearnessy Road and Leighton Him1.000.000-dollar — The tunnels are all being c
trances. The steady deepening are being driven into the ris. King's Park.
Road to Wing Sing Lane. Each | filli
Project
structed by mechanical, means with dynamit
rock drilling tools
of the tunnels will be a subse
the one ing ground on which Govern-One is being built from Gas-pleted.
So far 14 borings for air raid ception, quent stage.
For this The tunnels are being con mont House stands. The tun- coigne Road to Public Square These shelters are construct tunnels have been made in the Gardens.
llow concrete blocks Colony on the Island and on the king tunnel construc structed at top speed. The connels face the Colonial Secretary Street; the other from Waterloo ed
sand This type of
mainland, Wing Commander followed and it is bel tractors, Maraman and Co., have Office,
ele-pick axes, shovels proof
black powder.
It is impossible, what : accommod afforded by number
brought from Manila: Mr. P. H Stokes who drove a 9,500-foot
tunnel for the Suyoc mines in world-record time. He will give expert advice during the tunnel.
Pen-Type Shelters as well
On the recommends the Kowloon Rest
is protected by almost 100 feet of rock,
Besiden the tunnels the Gov-
Juse
osive bomb
Each
to giv
dns told the
COMING COMPANY