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25. Extensive repairs were carried out to piers and seawalls which were damaged in the typhoon of 2nd September. At Lai Chi Kok a length of 750 lineal feet of seawall was reconstructed.
ELECTRIC WORKS.
26. Wireless:- Aerial systems were renewed and improved at Cape D'Aguilar Transmitting Station. The re-broadcasting receiver at Victoria Peak was improved, and special aerials were erected. A Lamson pneumatic tube was installed to facilitate communication between the Royal Observatory and the Kowloon Wireless Telegraph Station. An experimental transmitter of increased power was constructed for alternative broadcast programmes and one new lattice work mast was erected. A new receiver and several new batteries were fitted at Water Police Stations.
27. Hospital apparatus from the Government Civil Hospital was removed, repaired and installed at Queen Mary Hospital.
28. Lighting, power and telephones: Lights, fans, lifts, telephones and bells in Government Buildings were maintained in good order. Two submarine cables were repaired. Lines were run, and telephones fitted in various offices and hospitals, and alarm bells were fitted in hospitals and gaols.
29. Work on new electrical installations at the following places was in hand:- Queen Mary Hospital; Wanchai Market; Stanley Village Market; Victoria Gaol and Guards' Quarters at Wyndham Street; Government Civil Hospital; Stanley Prison; Kennedy Town Market; Western Market; new Broadcasting Station; Central British School; Kowloon City Police Station and new Wireless Station Hung Hom. Improvements and additions were carried out in forty-seven buildings in Hong Kong and fifteen in Kowloon.
30. One cross harbour submarine cable was laid.
BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE.
31. The volume of new building work coming under the jurisdiction of the Buildings Ordinance, 1935, showed a slight decrease in comparison with the figures for 1936.
32. Plans for alterations and additions to existing buildings again comprised the major part of plans deposited. There was an increase in the number of European houses but a decrease in the number of Chinese tenement type houses dealt with. Buildings of a non-domestic character showed an increase.
33. The large increase in the cost of building material which occurred toward the middle of the year was reflected in a marked falling off in the number of plans deposited during the last quarter.