Q 31
B. O. O. Work.
28. Improvements etc., to Private Streets.-In connection with improvements to private streets, footways under verandahs, balconies, etc., apportionments were made in 352 cases involving 527 separate accounts which totalled $93,958.72.
In addition to the above several accounts were prepared in connection with work carried out by the drainage office. There were also the usual accounts for fees for disconnecting traps on Crown Land.
Accounts for shoring and other work due from owners of private properties or their contractors were dealt with in the usual manner.
29. Improvements etc., to Public Streets.-The policy of requiring houses, when undergoing reconstruction, to be built at a higher level where necessary in order to provide for the future raising of certain low-lying areas in Hong Kong and Kowloon has been continued. In some cases, arrangements were made allowing the ground floors to be retained at their existing levels upon owners giving an undertaking to raise such floors when the raising of the street is carried out.
30. Footways.--Attention has been given under Section 134 of the P. H. & B. O. (clause 11 of Schedule G) to footways under verandahs and balconies, any necessary repairs being carried out by this Department at the cost of the owners of the property from which such verandahs and balconies project.
31. Typhoon and Rainstorm Damages.-The exceptional rainfall during the months of June and July resulted in considerable damage to property. In June a retaining wall erected on the East side of I.L. 2354, Stubbs Road, to support spoil gave way, causing damage to other private property below the site, and a very large quantity of debris etc., was washed across the Wongneichong Road on to Happy Valley. Two persons were killed.
In June further damage was caused by flooding in the vicinity of Wongneichong Village; roofs, flank, front and rear walls of fifteen houses collapsed or were otherwise rendered dangerous, but no casualties were reported. Further damage was done by floods in July, when certain of the village houses collapsed. No casualties were reported.
A washout occurred at Causeway Bay, with damage in two places to the new road from Causeway Bay to North Point near I.L. 2301.
The old Kaulungtong Village was flooded and about fifty houses collapsed. There were no casualties.