316
22
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS--ANNUAL.
V.-PUBLIC WORKS.
The New Magistracy was practically completed at the close of the year: The building, which is four-storeyed, is situated near the junction of Arbuthnot Road and Wyndham Street and contains, in the basement, prisoners' waiting room, strong-rooms, store-rooms, cells, and servants' quarters; on the ground floor, two Police Courts, rooms for Magistrates and their clerks and for witnesses; on the first floor, Chief Clerk's offices and quarters for Indian Police Constables; on the second floor, two flats for European Police Inspectors and further quarters for Indian Police. Extensive quarters for subordinate officers were completed and occupied during the year. They included three three-storeyed blocks at Breezy Point, each block containing six flats, two of four rooms and four of three rooms; a terrace of four two-storeyed houses, two of four rooms and two of three rooms, at Mount Parish; and a terrace of eight two-storeyed houses, two of four rooms and six of three rooms, adjoining King's Park, Kowloon.
The Mongkoktsui breakwater was constructed throughout to the level of the underside of the paving blocks. The whole of the concrete blocks required for facing the outer slope above the level of low-water were completed and 8,114 blocks out of a total number of 12,405 were set in place. The pitching of the inner slope above the level of low-water was also proceeded with, 7,230 pitching stones of an average weight of half a ton each being set. The reclamation adjoining the northern entrance was completed except the pier-head, and the pier enclosing the harbour of refuge to the south was nearly completed.
The foundations of the large masonry dam of the Tytam Tuk Reservoir were partially constructed over a length of 400 feet. In the old stream-bed, the foundations were carried down to a maximum depth of 44 feet below ground level or about 40 feet below tidal low-water level, at which depth sound water-tight rock was found. Towards the end of the year, good progress was made with the concrete and masonry work. Good progress was also made with the laying of the additional pumping mains and with the foundations for the additional pumping machinery.
The following buildings were completed:-Stables for Sanitary Department adjoining No. 1 Police Station; two underground trough closets, one in Pottinger Street and the other in D'Aguilar Street; a urinal at Happy Valley; additions to the Printing Office, Victoria Gaol, and alterations and additions to Hunghom Police Station.
The following buildings were in course of erection :-New Public Works Stores; Wireless Telegraph Station at Cape D'Aguilar; married quarters for Police in Caine Road; new block of cells, etc., Victoria Gaol; a School in the Hill District, and a Police Station at Lok Ma Chau in the New Territories.
The first portion of a road along the north face of Victoria Peak, 2,820 feet in length, commencing from Victoria Gap, was completed, as was also a road to give access to Inland Lots 1946 and 1947 situated on the ridge to the east of Happy Valley. Belchers Street was extended across Marine Lot 239. The old road from Deep Water Bay