XN000022-1977-01-11 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1977

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GOVERNOR AND LADY MACLEHOSE VISIT MTR SITES IN KOWLOON

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THE GOVERNOR AND LADY MACLEHOSE THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON VISITED SEVERAL MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY WORK SITES IN KOWLOON.

THEY WERE ACCOMPANIED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION, MR. NORMAN THOMPSON THE CHIEF CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER MR. F.G. SHUTT, AND THE CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER (KOWLOON), MR. MICHAEL C.C. SZE.

THE GROUP FIRST VISITED ARGYLE STATION WHERE THEY WERE BRIEFED ON CONSTRUCTION METHODS AND WATCHED WORKERS PUTTING DOWN PILES WHICH WILL FORM THE STATION WALLS.

FROM THERE THEY PROCEEDED TO HAMILTON STREET, WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE SOPHISTICATED COMPRESSED AIR INSTALLATION WHICH PROVIDES THE NECESSARY PRESSURISED ENVIRONMENT FOR NEARBY TUNNELLING BETWEEN ARGYLE AND WATERLOO STATIONS.

THE PARTY LATER WENT TO WHITFIELD BARRACKS. THERE THEY SAW THE ACCESS SHAFT WHICH WILL BE USED TO REMOVE EXCAVATED DEBRIS DURING TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION UNDER NATHAN ROAD.

THE NEXT STOP WAS THE OPEN-PIT SITE AT LOK FU.

AT THE SITE, MTRC ENGINEERS AND CONTRACTORS EXPLAINED THE STATION'S CONSTRUCTION METHOD TO THE VISITORS AND POINTED OUT SOME OF THE INTERESTING FEATURES OF THE SITE.

THE PARTY THEN WENT TO CHOI HUNG. AFTER INSPECTING SOME SURFACE WORKS, THE GOVERNOR, ACCOMPANIED BY ENGINEERS AND CONTRACTORS, WENT DOWN THE PING SHEK SHAFT AND WALKED THROUGH THE CHOI HUNG TUNNEL TO EMERGE AT KOWLOON BAY DEPOT. LADY MACLEHOSE MEANWHILE VISITED THE CHOI HUNG STATION SITE.

THE GOVERNOR AND LADY MACLEHOSE LATER REJOINED AT THE KOWLOON BAY TUNNEL PORTAL BEFORE TOURING THE SITE WHERE THE FUTURE KOWLOON BAY STATION, DEPOT AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT COMPLEX WILL BE SITUATED.