34. Prosecutions for Defective Building Work.--Legal proceedings were taken on account of defective work in 2 cases in each of which a conviction was secured, the fines imposed amounting to $125.
35. Prosecutions for other nuisances.--Legal proceedings were taken in 157 cases for non-compliance with notices issued in connection with nuisances reported by officers of the Sanitary Department. In the case of 88 of these, fines were inflicted.
36. Cemeteries.--Surveys in connection with the Chinese Cemeteries have been continued but owing to vacancies in the staff and pressure of other work, the progress made was not very great. The necessary surveys for keeping the records of new grave spaces in the Colonial Cemetery up to date were made.
Work in connection with forming new terraces, &c., to afford additional grave spaces was carried out at Mount Caroline, Kai Lung Wan, Chai Wan, Aberdeen, Sai Yu Shek and Ma Tau Wei Cemeteries, and in addition some nullah training was done at Mount Caroline and a roadway was formed at Chai Wan Cemetery.
Extensive exhumation was carried out at Mount Caroline, Ma Tau Wei and Chai Wan Cemeteries.
37. The Stress and Public Performances Regulation Ordinance.--In all 12 buildings were licensed under this Ordinance during the year for the holding of various public performances. In some cases the licences were for performances in buildings specially erected for the purpose and in other cases for existing buildings which were altered as required prior to the granting of the licences.
Licences were also issued in the case of 2 circuses which were permitted to perform at Causeway Bay and Kowloon.
A sum of $1,300 was derived from fees paid in connection with the issue of licences.
The new "Victoria Cinematograph Theatre" in Des Vœux Road Central on the Praya Reclamation to M.L. 14 was completed in August and the new Chinese Theatre in Kau U Fong on Inland Lot 1858 in September, both being open for public performances. These theatres are included in the number given above.
Steps have been taken towards making existing buildings, which are used as places of public entertainment, comply as far as possible with the requirements of the Ordinance. Those dealt with were the Ko Shing Theatre, the City Hall and the theatre at Mt. Austin Barracks, in all of which the alterations required were practically complete at the end of the year.
38. Fires. One house, No. 222 Queen's Road East, was destroyed by fire on January 2nd and rebuilding was necessitated.