47
# Chapter XII.
# PUBLIC WORKS.
During the year under review the operations of the Public Works Department were carried out, under a Head Office Staff, by eleven sub-departments: Accounts and Stores (later, Accounts), Architectural, Buildings Ordinance, Crown Lands and Surveys, Drainage, Electrical, Port Development, Roads and Transport, Valuations and Resumptions, Waterworks Construction and Waterworks Maintenance.
As from the 1st June, 1938, all work in connection with the purchase of Government stores was removed from the Public Works Department, and was taken over by an independent Stores Department.
The staff of the Public Works Department comprises 148 European officers, including 9 temporary officers, and 557 non-European officers, including 12 temporary officers. The number of daily paid artisans and labourers averaged 1,778.
The following is a summary of works carried out during the year :-
## Buildings.
The reinforced concrete frame of the New Central Market was completed by the end of the year when work was well advanced on the erection of the stalls, the application of the terrazzo wall finishings, the fixing of windows and the drainage work. This building is of four storeys with main entrances on Queen's Road and Des Voeux Road. At the Des Voeux Road entrance a passenger lift will be provided and the entrances for goods will be on Jubilee Street and Queen Victoria Street. The Wongneichung Market was completed in October. It is a small single storey market of the open type, in reinforced concrete, providing twenty stalls finished in terrazzo. Extensive alterations and additions were carried out during the year to the former Victoria Hospital, converting the Hospital block and the Nursing Sisters' quarters into quarters for senior officers. The Hospital block was converted into three flats of five rooms and one flat of four rooms. The Nursing Sisters' quarters were converted into two semi-detached houses. Following the Japanese invasion of South China camps to house refugees from the neighbouring Chinese territory were erected at North Point, King's Park and Ma Tau Chung. These camps, of timber construction with concrete floors, consist of 26, 24 and 27 huts respectively, providing accommodation for 1,512, 1,368 and 2,016 refugees. Because of the uncertain political and economic situation it was decided not to proceed with work on the New Mental Hospital and the New Ward Block D, Kowloon Hospital. Owing to pressure of other architectural work it was not found possible to commence work during the year on the new Central Government Store, for which $205,000 had been provided in the Estimates for 1938.
## Roads.
Among the more important road works completed during the year were the super-elevation of the bends on the Wong Nei Cheong Gap and Castle Peak road, the building of the Customs Pass Road and the road from Sheung Shui to Mak Fu Ferry, the widening and surfacing of the Tai Po Road and the reconstruction of the bridge at Deep Water Bay.
Major works in hand at the end of the year included the reconstruction of the junction of Hennessy Road, Arsenal Street and Queen's Road East, the reconstruction of MacDonnell Road Bridge, and widening, resurfacing and super-elevating several major roads on the island and on the mainland.
## Drainage.
In Hong Kong new main sewers and storm water drains to a length of 5,522 feet and new open channels of varying sections to a length of 851 feet were laid.
47
Chapter XII.
PUBLIC WORKS.
During the year under review the operations of the Public Works Department were carried out, under a Head Office Staff, by eleven sub-departments: Accounts and Stores (later, Accounts), Architectural, Buildings Ordinance, Crown Lands and Surveys, Drainage, Electrical, Port Development, Roads and Transport, Valuations and Resumptions, Waterworks Construction and Waterworks Maintenance.
As from the 1st June, 1938, all work in connection with the purchase of Government stores was removed from the Public Works Department, and was taken over by an independent Stores Department.
The staff of the Public Works Department comprises 148 European officers, including 9 temporary officers, and 557 non-European officers, including 12 temporary officers. The number of daily paid artisans and labourers averaged 1,778.
The following is a summary of works carried out during the year :-
Buildings.
The reinforced concrete frame of the New Central Market was completed by the end of the year when work was well advanced on the erection of the stalls, the application of the terrazzo wall finishings, the fixing of windows and the drainage work. This building is of four storeys with main entrances on Queen's Road and Des Voeux Road. At the Des Voeux Road entrance a passenger lift will be provided and the entrances for goods will be on Jubilee Street and Queen Victoria Street. The Wongneichung Market was completed in October. It is a small single storey market of the open type, in reinforced concrete, providing twenty stalls finished in terrazzo. Extensive alterations and additions were carried out during the year to the former Victoria Hospital, converting the Hospital block and the Nursing Sisters' quarters into quarters for senior officers. The Hospital block was converted into three flats of five rooms and one flat of four rooms. The Nursing Sisters' quarters were converted into two semi-detached houses. Following the Japanese invasion of South China camps to house refugees from the neighbouring Chinese territory were erected at North Point, King's Park and Ma Tau Chung. These camps, of timber construction with concrete floors, consist of 26, 24 and 27 huts respectively, providing accommodation for 1,512, 1,368 and 2,016 refugees. Because of the uncertain political and economic situation it was decided not to proceed with work on the New Mental Hospital and the New Ward Block D, Kowloon Hospital. Owing to pressure of other architectural work it was not found possible to com-" mence work during the year on the new Central Government Store, for which $205,000 had been provided in the Estimates for 1938.
Roads.
Among the more important road works completed during the year were the super-elevation of the bends on the Wong Nei Cheong Gap and Castle Peak road, the building of the Customs Pass Road and the road from Sheung Shui to Mak Fu Ferry, the widening and surfacing of the Tai Po Road and the reconstruction of the bridge at Deep Water Bay.
Major works in hand at the end of the year included the reconstruction of the junction of Hennessy Road, Arsenal Street and Queen's Road East, the recon- struction of MacDonnell Road Bridge, and widening, resurfacing and super-elevating several major roads on the island and on the mainland.
Drainage.
In Hong Kong new main sewers and storm water drains to a length of 5,522 feet and new open channels of varying sections to a length of 851 feet were laid.
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