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executed to the piers and turnstiles and ticket offices were erected in readiness for the new services which were to be inaugurated on the 1st January, 1919.
In connection with a re-grading of the upper portion of the Peak Tramway in order to eliminate certain apparatus hitherto required to depress the steel hauling cable at a point where a sudden change of gradient occurred, approaches to temporary terminal stations above Kennedy Road and below Barker Road were constructed by the Government. The re-grading was in progress at the close of the year.
The total amount expended on Public Works Extraordinary was $1,578,149.12 and on Annually Recurrent Works $712,675.37.
Railway.
The Goods Examination Shed at Kowloon Station was completed early in the year, and in order to still further encourage this traffic, the building of a reinforced concrete wharf in front of the shed extending to a suitable depth of water has been decided upon.
The roofing of the passenger platforms remained in abeyance owing to the non-arrival of the steelwork. A portion of the steelwork was ready for delivery but owing to the conditions prevailing it was not possible to ship it.
Permanent two-storied quarters have been built at Lowu in British Territory for the accommodation of the British Section traffic and locomotive staff of Shum Chun Station who were previously housed in the temporary wooden station.
The wooden station building at Shum Chun leased from the Chinese Section was condemned early in the year and the station staff and instruments moved to temporary accommodation provided in the Chinese Section station on the main line platform. Plans for a new permanent station have been approved and it is hoped that the building will be ready to be handed over to this Section during 1919.
At Taipo Station a brickwork shelter has been provided off the down platform for the examination of passengers and their luggage arriving by launch from Sha U Chong. This has not proved to be sufficient and additional accommodation has been sanctioned and the work put in hand in 1919.
Regarding the routes for the projected branch lines to Tai Kok Tsui and Tai Wan Bay, referred to last year, exhaustive contour surveys were carried out and the final locations for both these projects decided upon in consultation with the Honourable Director of Public Works. Plans and sections were prepared and Reports and Estimates completed.
On the 4th August, after several days' continuous heavy rain, an exceptional storm visited the Colony, and caused considerable damage to the Railway at several points. The high bank (34 feet) at mile 14 subsided, necessitating a curtailment of the train service