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out to the submarine cable to Green Island. The cable to Waglan was also damaged but weather conditions did not permit repairs to be completed in 1938.
A new landing floodlight was installed at Kai Tak Airport. Extensive electrical work was carried out at the Refugee camps at North Point, Ma Tau Chung, King's Park and Kam Tin. A private intercommunication telephone system was installed in the Colonial Secretariat. The Electrical Workshops were removed to premises in Arsenal Yard.
Buildings Ordinance Office.
Early in the year the building industry began to show signs of recovering from the slump from which it had suffered during the past four years. The disturbed conditions in China have given an impetus to the erection of European flats and of buildings of a non-domestic character.
Valuations and Resumptions.
The total valuations made during the year comprised 773 hereditaments, with a total estimated value of $8,082,845.35.
Valuations were made for the purpose of resumption for street widenings and the development of areas in accordance with the approved Town Planning Scheme, for anti-malarial works, Estate Duty and sundry other purposes.
Valuations comprising 463 hereditaments, with a total estimated value of $7,127,560.50, were made for sundry Government Departments.
area.
Town Planning.
A tentative revised plan was prepared for the Government House and Offices No other new schemes or revisions of any importance were prepared during 1938, development having been in accordance with the recommendations of the Town Planning Committee of 1922 or with amendments and additions previously reported.
Expenditure.
The average annual expenditure on Public Works for the decade 1909 to 1918 was $2,293,762; 1919 to 1928, $6,990,950; 1929 to 1938, $8,507,690.
Comparative expenditure for 1937 and 1938 is as follows:--
1937 1938 Public Works Department $2,436,112.31 $2,213,667.71 Public Works Recurrent 1,768,369.96 1,811,168.55 Public Works Extraordinary 1,510,298.07 1,899,902.40 Works undertaken and charged to Loan Accounts. 747,506.81 1,657,596.33 Miscellaneous Works Totals...... 734,730.07 555,649.47 .$7,197,017.22 $8,137,984.46