Q
73
Brought forward,
Electric Lamps (incandescent).
Taikoktsui,
Hok Un,
Total increase in number of
lamps, gas and electric,
1916 Estimates,
1916 Sup. Vote,
P.W.E. Kowloon.
11
10
9
19*
1811
30
$500.00
400.00
$900.00 898.45
1916 Expenditure,
120. Typhoon Refuge, Mongkoktsui. As mentioned in last year's Report, this work was completed in August, 1915, but the retention money under the Contract, amounting to $25,000, and a few other items remained to be paid in 1916. The principal other item was a payment of $1,700 to the lessees of Kowloon Marine Lot No. 32 for the rebuilding of a benzine godown the removal of which was necessitated by the readjustment of their lot. This payment was made in accordance with the terms of the settlement effected with the lessees in 1910.
Operations for the removal of a submerged pinnacle rock near the northern entrance to the Refuge were undertaken. As the rock projected 10 feet above the level of the surrounding bed of the harbour, its summit being only 6 feet below low water ordinary spring tides, it formed a possible source of danger to junks making for the Refuge. A staging was erected over the rock and a hole 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet in depth was drilled in it. Arrangements were made with the Naval Authorities to provide the explosives and to carry out the blasting operations, but these had not been completed by the end of the year.
With regard to the settlement of the breakwater, the central indicator referred to in last year's Report showed a further subsidence of 3 inches from June, 1915, to December, 1916. The total settlement below the surface of the dredged trench, as recorded by this indicator, from January, 1911, when it was lowered into position, to December, 1916, has amounted to 6' 5".
From levels which have been taken on the top of the breakwater, it is found that, during the period first mentioned, (June, 1915, to December, 1916), settlement has occurred varying from 1” at the north end to 5" at the south end, except that over the central portion of the curve, for a length of about 400 feet, the subsidence has been materially greater, being as follows :-
June, 1915, to September, 1915, 12" "J March, 1916, December, 1916, 4" 9" 16"* As a separate vote for "Electric Lighting, Shamshuipo ", has now been provided under 4 Public Works Recurrent", to which the 13 lamps erected in Shamshui-po in 1915 have been transferred, the increase in the number of such lamps in Kowloon (vide paragraph 74 of this Report) appears as 6.