CO129-597-3 Estimates 1950 22-2-1949 - 3-11-1950 — Page 211

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One of the conditions of sale was that a large nullah should be constructed, the cost of which would be shared by the Company and by Government. This nullah is now being started as part of a contract with the Netherlands Harbour Works for drodging and rubble mound work, both at Kun Tong and North Point, and a sum of $1,720,000 will ultimately be refunded by the Asiatic Petroleum Co.

A sum of $500,000 is provided under sub-head 21 for the widening of Mount Kellot Road. This has becomic very necessary owing to the increase in traffic which will result from the additional residential accommodation which is being crected in this area.

Sub-head 22 is another road itum, and is really provision for the continuation of the work of resurfacing strects which are in a very bad condition as a result of lack of maintenance during the Japanese Occupation. An extensive programme has already been carried out which has hitherto been financed from Loan funds. Those Loan allocations have now become exhausted, and while most of the main streets have been repaired some of the smaller streets are still in urgent need of resurfacing.

Sub-hoads 24 to 28 are all rehabilitation items concerning water supply, and they would have been a fair charge against Loan funds had sufficient balance been available. The same romarks apply to sub-head 41.

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To supplement the programme for permanent Government quarters, a scheme for the erection of temporary accommodation, utilising a cheaper type of construction, was approved by Finance Committee, towards the end of the present year, and the intention is to erect twentyfove bungalow apartments of an inexpensive but attractive design at Black's Link. The main walls will be of stone obtained from disused food godowns. will have Chinese type roofs. The cost is estimated at $725,000 and provision is made under sub-head 30A. The work is boing pressed forward as rapidly as possible in order to relieve the congestion in hotels. It was originally hoped that these new temporary quarters would be finished by the end of this financial year but there were delays in starting and most of the funds have now to be provided in the 1949-50 estimates. It is calculated that saving in hotel bills will be sufficient for the scheme to pay for itself in about three years.

Sub-head 30(b) is related to the erection of the proposed new Wah Yan College in Kowloon. The proposed site consists partly of a small valley which will be filled in by the spoil from excavations on other parts of the site. This cannot be done before a stormwater drain is provided, and provision has accordingly been included for $175,000 which is the estimated cost of this work.

The provision under sub-head 32 for a new abbatoir in Kennedy Town is only a token figure. This scheme is only in its very carly stages, but it is possible that working drawings may be completed by the end of the financial year, which would make a start on construction possible during the year 1950-51.