CO129-595-9 The British Military Administration of Hong Kong- report- 1946 11-7-1946 - 2-9-1946 — Page 118

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Within the City, the old Government building which

had previously housed the Secretariat was found to be practi-

cally undamaged and was brought into use as the main

Government administrative office in mid October.

Sub-Depart-

ments of the P.W.D. previously housed in the four-storied

building to the north of the main Government office had to

be accommodated elsewhere owing to the damage caused through

shell fire and subsidence due to the construction of A.R.P.

tunnels under the building. This necessitated taking

practically the whole of St. George's Building in the City.

A preliminary survey of dangerous buildings has

been made and in some cases notices calling for demolition

have been served.

Accommodation generally is severely taxed

to meet demands of the various services requiring offices and

establishments ashore; the position seems unlikely to improve

in the near future.

Lands: Under proclamation, dealings in land -

except for a lease or tenancy for a term not exceeding one

year are forbidden, consequently no sale of Crown Lands has

taken place. The renewal of permits to pre-war holders is being made for six months from January 1946 and some considerable

revenue should result.

-

has

Nearly all equipment both field and office

disappeared and the lack of printing paper and frames hampers

production of plans and maps, of which about 50 have been lost.

Roads: With little maintenance undertaken over the

last two years or more, and stocks of bituminous materials at

very low ebb and quarries swept clean of all broken stone, only

first aid repairs have been possible. The quarry plant is now

being overhauled and put into commission. A large repair

programme for some years is therefore to be expected, both in

resurfacing of roads in urban districts and to the trunk

communications of the Territories.