cals' propionic acid to bagasse effectively stabilises the virulent micro-organisms that cause the often fatal respiratory disease known as bagassosis among workers and which also cause deterioration of stored bagasse. This makes bagasse capable of big development to provide a low-cost substitute for other cellulic fibres in chipboard/hardboard pro- duction; galvanised roofing; and softwoods in paper, cardboard and viscose rayon production.
Techniques for use of the treatment and for machinery to apply atomised propionic acid by spraying the bagasse have been patented by the London firm of Charles Wright Developments Ltd.
Grant for housing research
The Thai Government has approved an award of 85,000 baht for the conducting of a three-year research project to find the most practical architec- tural design for local low-cost housing.
Associate Professor Songkoon Atthakor of the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, will conduct the research which will be primarily concerned with the design of strong houses, built with cheap materials for low-income families.
He stated last month that he expected to be able to produce a self-built house which would cost between 70,000 and 100,000 baht. It would re- quire a site area of 144 sq. metres and would be capable of being completed within two weeks.
Jurong development budget
Singapore's Minister of Finance, Dr. Goh Keng Swee, has approved the 1970 budget of the Jurong Town Corporation, which calls for an expenditure of S$88.6 million of which S$41.3 million is for land acquisition for industrial estates.
Some 5,267 acres of industrial estates are to be developed this year, the largest in Jurong town, being 4,115 acres. The rest are in the Naval Base area (500 acres), Loyang (400 acres), Seletar (160 acres) and small lots in Redhill Extension, Tanglin Halt and Pulau Sebarus Dalam. Resettlement cost of these projects will be S$630,000.
Among the new projects are: Land develop- ment in Jurong, S$17.5 million; deepwater whar- ves, S$2.1 million; buildings in Jurong, S$1.5 million; flatted factories, S$2.2 million; and hous ing, S$1.7 million.
Final stage of HK$25 million estate
The HK$25 million Ko Chiu Road low cost housing estate enters its final stage next month when work begins on three more domestic blocks and one 24-classroom school.
The estate is made up of ten domestic blocks varying in height from seven to 15 storeys, design- ed to provide homes for about 26,600. On com- pletion it will have three schools.
Tenders for the blocks and school are now being invited. The estate is expected to be ready for occupation in the early months of 1972. The
architectural office of the Public Works Depart- ment designed it, and is supervising its construc- tion. It will be managed by the Housing Authority.
Building plans approved
Hong Kong Building Authority approved 74 new building plans of all types in April and certi- fied 39 completed buildings for occupation.
Of the plans approved, 33 were on Hong Kong Island, 22 in Kowloon and 19 in the New Ter- ritories. Buildings certified for occupation included six for domestic use, 16 for non-domestic use and 17 for combined uses.
12-storey Kwun Tong factory planned
Plans for a 12-storey factory on a site in Kwun Tong have been announced by China Engineers (Holdings) Ltd., Hong Kong. The building will have a total floor area of 543,000 sq.ft.
Working drawings are being prepared for stage I of the project to be erected at the rear of the exist- ing factory of HK Knitters Ltd. Deep piling will start soon and construction work should com- mence in September.
In stage II of the scheme a seven-storey building will be erected over the existing four-storey build- ing. With only a 14ft. headroom, a 60 ft. deep cais- son with a diameter of 6ft. will be sunk through the existing factory, which will be put on half pro- duction rate during construction. Soil exploration is now being carried out inside the building.
CHINA INGIN PERTH
Artist's drawing of Kwun Tong factory
The architects and engineers for the scheme are Samuel Tak Lee and Partners. Its estimated cost is HK$10 million.
Container terminal project
North Point Wharves Ltd. plan to have com- plete facilities for handling containerised cargo ready by September this year.
At North Point their old godowns on the west berth are to be demolished and the area converted into a container-ship berth. Additional piles will be
Far East BUILDER, June 1970
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