CO129-597-2 Estimates 1949 1-3-1948 - 14-7-1949 — Page 244

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at the present juncture owing to the fact that the renewal of the tram rails on this section can no longer be delayed. It is in the interests of all parties that the relaying of tho rails and the work on the road should be carried out at the samo time. The second schome at May Rond involves the reconstruction of a portion of the road which was completely blotted out by tho Japanoso. It is necessary to restore this in order to provido access to a now block of flats.

Tho additional traffic which will result will make it necessary for somo of the more dangerous corners to be widened to sono cxtent. The Doop Water Bay Road cxtension is to provide access to some land which is being utilised for a new building scheme.

Sub Heads 17 and 18 rolato to two roclamation schomo s Since the rooccupation, much rubblc from destroyed buildings has been dumped in those arcas and this is in danger of being washod into the harbour and lost unless work on the construction of retaining walls is started now. When completed, the roclamation at Hung Hom Bay will yield 93 acros of reclaimed land which would be available for building sites valued at somo twenty million dollars, while the levelling of hillsides to provide moro filling will make a further largu arca available for industrial and housing dovolopment. The second schomo at Connaught Road Central will provide a reclamation from which can be build five picrs with transit sheds for the usc of river and coastal cargo vessels. Those will replace damaged and obsolete piers. The schemo will bring in valuable revenue and more picrs can be constructed later if required. It is also proposed to construct a dock road 100 ft. wide and 3,300 ft. long, on the reclaimod area, which will help materially in rolicving traffic congestion. The total cost of the two schomos is ostinated at $32,000,000 and the possibility of financing this by means of a loan from Colonial Development and Welfare funds, is under discussion with the Secretary of Stato. In the meantime, $100,000 is being provided for preparatory work on cach schemo.

Provision is being made for a now workshop for the manufacture of furniture for Governmont offices and quarters. The work is at prosent handicapped by lack of proper accommoda- tion and experience has shown that it is much cheaper for Government to carry out this work in its own workshops than to put it out to contract.

Sub Hoad 2 relates to a reclamation schemo at Aberdoon alongside which fishing boats could borth while tho actual reclaimed arca could be used for the salting and drying of fish. Sub Head 3 provides for the improvement of landing facilitics at the Kennedy Town Wholesale Fish Market which will be inadequato when the number of vessels landing fish increases. An application has been made for grants from Colonial Development and Wolfare funds for the financing of those schomos but no decision has yet boon roached. The question of whether these two items should be finally included in the approved Estimates is, on the recommendation of the Estimates Committee, to be further considored in Scloct Committoo as a further commitmont has arisen at the last minute in the shape of a new markot for the Vogotable Marketing Schome which is being forced to vacate its prosont premises.

Head 30. Royal Observatory

Estimate 1948/49

Revised Estimate 1947/48 Approved Estimate 1947/48 Actual Expenditure 1946/47

$353,172

200,741

203,822

109,987