CO129-595-9 The British Military Administration of Hong Kong- report- 1946 11-7-1946 - 2-9-1946 — Page 74

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have been subsequently driven by the Japanese. of these have been found to endanger roads and buildings and remedial work is being undertaken in dangerous areas.

65.

Deterioration in the structure of piers is widespread and in some cases has progressed beyond the repairable limit. Rehabilitation of piers for ocean- going vessels is under the control of the Port Executive Committee and is being carried out mainly by personnel of the R.A.F. There appears to be no immediate necessity for the dredging of the harbour though some accretion may be found in the vicinity of wrecks.

WATERWORKS.

66.

Although little or no damage to water

installations was occasioned through acts of war, neglect, pillage by the enemy and looting have made necessary a considerable repair programme.

67.

All storage reservoirs were full at the end

of September. The daily supply has now risen to about 25 million gallons due to the steady increase of population and it is possible that water restrictions may have to be introduced shortly. The quality of supply now approximates closely to that of pre-war days.

67.

Revenue collection at 1941 rates was started

from the 15th November.

RAILWAY.

68.

The restoration of the railway has been hampered by the absence of even elementary transport- ation and maintenance stores. At the present time the Manager is still the sole European officer with railway technical knowledge. The railway workshops are in charge of a Warrant Officer of the R.A.F. and the Civil Engineers' Department is run by a Chinese civil engineer. The native staff have returned in consider- able numbers, many of them being seriously under-nourished.

69.

By diligent search, a few machine tools have been discovered and these have been utilized in carry- ing out minor repairs though there are still no signs of the arrival of essential railway stores.

70.

Two local trains and one through train to Canton each way are now run daily with occasional cancellations resulting from locomotive failings.

71.

Through the co-operation of the Chinese section of the line, a not inconsiderable amount of railway stock has been recovered, but the extension of the through service is dependent upon the arrival of more locomotives, for which a high priority has been requested.

71.

The local services on the British Section have proved of considerable benefit both to the residents of the New Territories and to the Colony's fresh food supply as a whole.

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