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Public Works.
SECTION III. THE COLONY.
70. It was everywhere apparent that little or no effort was made by the Japanese during the last year or so of the occupation to maintain any of the public services, although, generally speaking, damage was less (or of a different kind) than was indicated in the various reports reaching London prior to the Japanese surrender. Work on repairs was necessarily restricted owing to the lack of supervisory staff and the paucity of some materials, particularly timber; but considerable advances were made in the organization of labour generally.
71. Within the city and its immediate precincts, such damage to buildings as appeared was mainly the result of lack of all maintenance. Bombing and shell-fire damage were of re- latively minor account. The effects of looting, however, parti- cularly in the Peak district and in the rural areas, was serious. In many areas only the walls of buildings remained, stripped of every vestige of woodwork.
in
72. The main damage to Government buildings was the Leighton Hill Quarters, which were destroyed by gun fire, and the Government schools of King's and Queen's Colleges, which were completely gutted. Several of the University build- ings had suffered in like manner. The old Government Building, which formerly housed the Colonial Secretary's Office and the Council Chamber, was found in fair condition and was put into use as the Headquarters of the Civil Affairs Administration.
73. A preliminary survey of dangerous buildings was made and, in some cases, notices calling for demolition were served.
74. By Proclamation, dealings in land, except for a lease or tenancy for periods less than one year, were forbidden, and in consequence no sale of Crown lands took place. A six months. renewal of permits to pre-war holders was made as from Jan- uary, 1946, and some considerable revenue resulted,
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75. Although roads were on the whole still in good con- dition after four years neglect, and stood as a notable reminder of past efficiency, a large repair programme is to be expected both in respect of the urban districts and of the trunk communications in the New Territories. With stocks of bituminous materials at a very low ebb, and with quarries swept clean of all broken stone, only first-aid repairs could be ander- taken. The available quarry plant was put into commission. Lack of maintenance resulted in progressive and heavy damage to all drainage systems.
76. Over and above the twelve miles length of A.R.P. tunnels constructed prior to December, 1941, many others had been sub- sequently driven by the Japanese. Several of these were found to endanger roads and buildings, and remedial work was under- taken in dangerous areas.
77. Although little or no damage to water installations was occasioned through acts of war, neglect, pillage by the enemy and looting made necessary a considerable repair pro-
gramme.
78. All storage reservoirs were full at the end of Septem- ber. The daily consumption rose to about 25 million gallons due to the steady increase of population. The quality of supply approximated closely to that of pre-war days. Revenue collection at 1941 rates was started from the 15th November.
79. The Kowloon-Canton Railway, British Section, com- Railway. menced to function with one train each way daily on the 6th Sep- tember. A daily through train service with Canton commenced on the 14th November and, up to the middle of March, had con- veyed 229,350 passengers with earnings of $3,163,006.-- of which the British Section's share was $229,190.- representing only 7 per cent of the total receipts. The high fare of $15.70, compared with the pre-war fare of $1.00, did not deter passengers from entering the Colony, and towards the end of the Military period the preponderance of those entering the Colony by rail over those leaving was approximately 2,000 per week.
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