April_1965 — Page 28

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Model of the Police Field Force headquarters and training centre,

M$30 million Police H.Q. in Perak Jungle

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ACCOMMODATION PLANNED FOR 6,000

OVERNMENT engineers, assisted by

private contractors, are carving out of secondary jungle near Ipoh a giant M$30 million complex of multi- storey buildings to serve as the head- quarters and training centre for the Police Field Force.

Construction work on some of the buildings has already commenced and the entire project is expected to be completed by 1967.

The Perak State government has made available 1,600 acres of land-- worked out mining areas, secondary jungle and jungle-about nine miles away from Ipoh in the Tanjong Rambutan area. This area leads to the jungle covered, stream criss- crossed hills of the central range that will provide additional and ideal training facilities for the para mili- tary force.

The built-up area of the project will cover about 600 acres. Perimeter and contour surveying was completed early last year and fleets of heavy equipment from the Public Works Department levelled several hillocks and graded adjoining land, removing more than 300,000 cu. yd. of earth for some of the initial construction work.

Satellite Town

When completed and occupied, the project will be a satellite town, ac- commodating 1,600 officers and men and their families a total of about 6,000 people.

Some of the main aspects of the whole project are:

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Quarters for officers and men 10 blocks of flats each 11 storeys high, two blocks of three storeys, 10

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blocks cach two storeys high and nearly 100 two-floor bungalows. Lifts will be installed in the multi- storey blocks.

There will be a big officers' mess, providing seating capacity for about 300, a smaller mess for non-commis- sioned officers and a large canteen and mess hall for the ranks.

Modern Mosque

The headquarters block, standing on a hillock, will comprise a four- storey administrative wing, signals (radio) and operations rooms, brief- ing rooms, conference halls, telephone exchange, an electricity sub-station and an indoor training wing, includ- ing lecture halls. Nearby will be an assembly hall,

A modern mosque, with accom-

now under construction

modation for at least 1,000 worship- pers, washing pool and other neces- sary facilities, will dominate a hillock near the main entrance.

There will be a series of playing fields and courts, children's play- grounds, and a landing strip for light aircraft. A large mining pool will be converted for training purposes while a smaller pool will be for swim- ming and other water sports.

A large cinema with stage and changing rooms for theatricals, a big shopping centre and market and primary school to take in about 1,500 to 2,000 children are also planned.

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To ensure adequate water supply a reservoir with a capacity of more than 1 million gallons will also be constructed, and to beautify the whole aspect, special gardens and walks will be laid out in various sections and shade trees planted. When complet- ed, there will be more than 10 miles of internal roads and street lighting.

Helping the Public Works Depart- ment, who designed the project, is Superintendent of Police, Mr. C.M.A. Shaw, principal staff officer and ad- jutant to the Commander of the Field Force, Senior Assistant Commissioner Mr. Yusof Khan. Mr. Shaw has been connected with the project right from the early planning stages and pro- vides the co-ordinating link between the Police Headquarters and the PWD.

HOUSING BOARD TO BE FORMED

A HOUSING BOARD is be set up in Hong Kong to give advice on the colony's housing needs.

The Hon K. A. Watson will be its first chairman. Other members will be four members of the public ap- pointed by the Governor; the Secre- tary for Chinese Affairs; the Director of Public Works; the District Com- missioner, New Territories; Mr. J.T. Wakefield, Commissioner for Resettle- ment; Mr. J.M. Fraser, Commission- er for Housing; and Mr. S.T. Kidd, Assistant Colonial Secretary (Lands).

Under the terms of reference, the Board will be required to keep under

review, and to report annually on, progress in all types of housing con- struction; to assess the present hous- ing needs and those over the next ten years, the balance between types of housing, and the scale of ancillary so- cial and employment facilities avail- able and required in association with domestic housing; to make recom- mendations for a forward building programme and a technical planning target covering the next ten years.

The Board will also advise the Governor on administrative measures necessary to improve co-ordination between housing agencies.

Far East Architect & Builder April, 1965