XN000022-1980-03-21 — Page 11

10

FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1980

MAJOR CONTRACT SIGNED FOR KCR MODERNISATION SCHEME

******

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) AWARDED THE BIGGEST SINGLE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT SO FAR UNDER THE MODERNISATION AND ELECTRIFICATION SCHEME OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY.

THE CONTRACT WORTH $101.8 MILLION IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A RAILWAY DEPOT AT HO TUNG LAU, SHA TIN.

IT WENT TO LEIGHTON CONTRACTORS PTY LTD OF AUSTRALIA.

THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED THIS AFTERNOON BY MR WONG MANG-KI, PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT CIVIL ENGINEER OF PWD'S CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE AND MR HARRY CHARITON FOR THE COMPANY.

THE DEPOT, WHEN COMPLETED IN ABOUT TWO YEARS, WILL PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING OF THE NEW ROLLING STOCK.

WORK ON THE CONTRACT WILL INCLUDE SITE FORMATION, TRACK LAYING, CONSTRUCTION OF A LARGE MAINTENANCE SHED, CARRIAGE WASHING PLANT, OFFICES AND OTHER MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ANCILLARY WORKS.

THE DEPOT SITE IS BOUNDED BY THE KCR MAIN LINE AND THE EXISTING DUAL CARRIAGEWAY TO TA! PO, AND LIES BETWEEN FO TAN AND THE NEW RACE COURSE STATION.

THE WORK FOR THE DEPOT HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY TRANSMARK (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF BRITISH RAIL), UNDER THE OVERALL SUPERVISION OF THE CONSULTANT MANAGEMENT DIVISION OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE OF PWD.

THE LATEST CONTRACT BROUGHT THE $2 000 MILLION MODERNISATION AND ELECTRIFICATION SCHEME OF KCR ONE STEP CLOSER TO REALITY.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, A $44.8 MILLION CONTRACT WAS AWARDED BY PWD FOR THE DESIGN, SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF A HIGH VOLTAGE (25 KV) OVERHEAD LINE.

THIS CONTRACT, ON WHICH WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY LATE 1982, WAS AWARDED TO THE BRITISH FIRM, BALFOUR BEATTY POWER CONSTRUCTION LTD.

MEANWHILE, WORK IS PROGRESSING ON A 2.7-HECTARE PODIUM DECK WHICH IS BEING BUILT OVER PART OF THE DEPOT AT HO TUNG LAU,

A LARGE PRIVATE HOUSING COMPLEX. CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING SOME 13 000 PEOPLE, WILL GO UP ON THE UPPER LEVELS OF THE PODIUM.

/11