Land Sales, &c.
Q 16
19. Piers.-There were no grants under long lease in Hong Kong. In Kowloon, an extension of 10,670 square feet was granted to Kowloon Permanent Pier No. 51, opposite Kowloon Marine Lot No. 40, for a premium of $1,067.00, and an extension of 6,975 square feet was granted to Kowloon Permanent Pier No. 6, opposite Kowloon Marine Lot 11, for a premium of $8,370.00.
In New Kowloon, there was one grant under long lease, viz:— New Kowloon Permanent Pier No. 5, opposite Lot 122, D.D. 448, Gin Drinkers Bay. This pier contained an area of 900 square feet and the premium paid was $90.00.
Licences for the following temporary piers were issued or renewed:- 21 in Hong Kong, 15 in Kowloon, and 12 in the New Territories.
Licences were also issued or renewed for 17 slipways in Hong Kong, 3 in Kowloon, and 2 in the New Territories, the total fees of which amounted to $6,315.00.
The premia derived in respect of temporary piers amounted to $1,403.57.
20. Cemeteries.-In Kowloon, several old Chinese Cemeteries were closed, and an area of about 100 acres near Ho Mun Tin was made ready for opening as a Chinese burial ground.
Work under the Buildings Ordinance.
21. By-laws and Regulations.--Some important amendments to Sections 175, 179, 180 and 181 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance were under consideration during the year, but the amending Ordinance was withdrawn for re-drafting before the end thereof.
21a. Administration.-Owing to the great increase of work, it was decided to form a separate sub-department to deal with Resumptions and Valuations which had hitherto been dealt with by the Executive Engineer in charge of the Buildings Ordinance Office. It was not, however, until the arrival of Mr. A. Kirk, Assistant Engineer, in September that it was found possible to put this into effect.
In order to cope with the greatly increased clerical work, Mr. J. Wattie was appointed Office Assistant and commenced duties on June 1st.
As the large number of notifications of nuisances received from the Sanitary Department has been continually increasing, it was arranged that for the future those of a minor nature should not be notified to this office but should be dealt with direct by that Department.
22. Plans.-The year under review was, owing to the unprecedented boom in the building trade, the busiest in the history of the Buildings Ordinance Office, and its outstanding feature was the very large number of domestic buildings dealt with.