09
during the latter part of 1908, no useful comparison can be made with the figures for that year, but it may be mentioned that the increase amounted to 4,607. The fees collected on account of the issue of permits to obtain sand and stone from Crown land amounted to $1,228.55.
27. Resumptions for Scavenging Lanes, &c.-A statement of the work done will be found under the heading "Public Works Extra-ordinary".
28. Private Streets.--Resurfacing and other repairs under the provisions of Sections 186 and 187 of the Buildings Ordinance were carried out by this Department at the cost of the frontagers in the following streets :--
Tsz Mi Alley.
Li Yuen Street East.
Li Yuen Street West.
Yuk Sau Lane.
29. Improvements, &c., of Public Streets.-The new public street, referred to in last year's report, leading from Queen's Road East to Praya East about midway between Arsenal and Ship Streets has been resumed by the Government and named Gresson Street. The buildings on the adjacent lots (Marine Lots Nos. 295 and 296 and Inland Lots Nos. 1,797 to 1,800) were nearing completion at the close of the year and the new street will be formed and opened to public traffic in due course.
Schemes for raising the levels of certain areas in Hongkong and Kowloon have received careful attention, and a number of houses have been rebuilt at higher levels in order that the adjoining streets may be raised whenever practicable.
30. Footways.-Attention has been given to the footways under balconies and verandahs. Numerous notices have been served calling upon owners to repair such footways and in several cases the necessary work has been carried out by this Department and the cost thereof recovered from owners. In most cases the areas dealt with were small and are not worthy of specific mention.
31. Typhoon and Rainstorm Damages.-Comparatively little damage was done to buildings in the Colony by typhoons and rainstorms.
In the typhoon of October 19th there were several small slips of earth and roofs generally suffered to a slight extent. Nothing of a very serious nature occurred but the following buildings in Kowloon were rendered to some extent dangerous :--
18 and 19 Fuk Sing Lane. Parts of the walls of these houses collapsed. The occupiers had previously been ordered to vacate the premises and no one was injured.
12 Main Street, Fuk Tsun Heung. These premises were considerably damaged but no collapse occurred.
129 Temple Street, Yaumati. The verandah was damaged and parts were rendered dangerous.
32. Collapses.--No serious collapses occurred.