Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS- ANNUAL.
V.-PUBLIC WORKS.
The principal public works in progress during the year, exclusive of the railway, were the Kowloon Waterworks and the Typhoon Refuge for small craft opposite Mongkoktsui. The former was completed with the exception of the contract for the main dam, &c., and a few trifling details, but, as mentioned in last year's report, the works are in such a forward state that the reservoir is fully capable of supplying the whole peninsula with water. Work on the Typhoon Refuge was begun by dredging a trench to form the base for the breakwater, the hopped dredger "St. Enoch" being purchased locally for this purpose. The Tytam Tuk Waterworks referred to in previous years' reports were fully completed.
The new Law Courts and new Government Offices were still under construction, whilst the following works were completed :- Land Office at Tai Po; market at Sai Wan Ho; extension of staff quarters at Government Civil Hospital for Nursing Institute; extension of Wanchai and Saiyingpun district schools; extension of Mount Gough police-station; animal depôts and slaughter-houses at Ma Tau Kok; four houses at Tai Po for the native clerical staff, and the service reservoir at West Point (750 feet level) for supplying the high levels of the city. The lease of One Tree Island to Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Company for the storage of dynamite having expired, it was decided to require this explosive to be stored in the Government Depôt on Green Island, and arrangements were made accordingly, a small building for the storage of detonators being erected. The works of reconstruction of gullies and extension of nullah training were continued, $10,000 being spent on the former and $18,150 on the latter.
The prolongation of Robinson Road, Kowloon, mentioned in last year's report, was completed, and a further section from Waterloo Road to near Soy Street was undertaken. The extension of the road past Kowloon City to its junction with the Chin Lan Chu Road was completed, and new roads from Kowloon City to Shatin Pass, and from Castle Peak Bay to Ping Shan were begun. Great improvements in the alignment and grading of several portions of the Shaukiwan Road adjoining the Taikoo Sugar Refinery and Shipyard were in progress, and a substantial improvement was made in the portion of Kennedy Road immediately west of the public laundries.
Works in progress included a new market at Kowloon Point, the deepening of Causeway Bay to enable small craft to gain access to all parts of the Typhoon Shelter at low water, a roof over Blake Pier, an extension of Government Offices for the accommodation of the Public Works Department, the raising of Des Voeux Road, Kowloon, on account of the railway reclamation, and several other works of smaller magnitude.
The extension and reconstruction of the Albany filter beds was continued, and good progress was made.
The total amount expended on Public Works Extraordinary was $1,000,935, and on Works Annually Recurrent $512,336.