May_1967 — Page 1

Far East ARCHITECT & BUILDER

The oldest trade journal in the Far East

EDITOR: A. G. BARNETT

Contents

MAY 1967

news review

News Review

25

World News

31

Bangkok Bank Building, Kuala Lumpur

35

Kittikachorn Stadium, Bangkok.

43

18-Storey Luxury Flats, Singapore

50

Books

48

Japanese Pavilion, Expo 67

52

Civil Engineering Section

Earthworks and Pavement for

Kuala Lumpur Airport

55

H.G. Skepper, H. Rock and Wen Hui Ting

Materials and Equipment

63

Contractors'

Plant

67

Building Plans Approved

71

Contracts Awarded

73

Index to Advertisers

78

:

Cover picture: Close-up of the mezzanine balcony and the Siamese teak strip ceiling laid to a herringbone pattern in the new Bangkok Bank Building, Kuala Lumpur. See page 35.

Published monthly by Far East Trade Press Ltd., 1908, Prince's Building, Hong Kong, Tel: 241031 European Office: Building and Contract Journals Ltd., 32 8outhwark Bridge Road, London, S. E. I. Tel: Waterloo 2060. Printed by Shum Shing Print- ing Co., 7 Ship Street, Hong Kong. Tel: 724513.

Controlled circulation to 5,000 qualified readers

RESETTLEMENT PROGRESS

A TOTAL of 66,265 persons were offered resettlement in urban estates during the twelve months ended March 31, according to the Hong Kong Urban Council's Statement of Progress for 1966 67.

Financial difficulties confronting a few contractors de- layed the completion of some new domestic blocks. The Resettlement Department took over 25 blocks in urban estates from the Public Works Department, of which six were of the Mark III design, ten were of Mark IV design, and nine Mark IV modified.

The Mark IV modified design differs from the Mark IV in having a water tap to each room. Blocks completed from December onwards have the water supplies to each room individually metered. The Mark III and later de- signs now account for 130 blocks out of a grand total of 351 urban blocks.

Particularly striking clearances during the year were for the redevelopment of Hillsea Barracks, the site of Pak Tin Resettlement Estate, a resumption at Ngau Tau Kok village, an extension to the Lung Cheung Road, the site of the Housing Authority's estate at Ping Shek and Staun- ton Creek. Aberdeen. Urban clearances freed 35 acres of land for development.

One new urban estate, Shek Pai Wan, was opened during the year, while five existing new estates, Chai Wan. Sau Mau Ping, Tze Wan Shan, Yau Tong and Ham Tin remained under development. Construction work con- tinued at Ngau Tau Kok and site formation at Pak Tin. The number of urban estates partly or fully occupied is now 17. containing 351 blocks, an increase of 25 during the year.

DEVELOPMENT AREA READY SOON

MINOR engineering works will be carried out shortly to complete the site formation of the initial stage of Area 9 of the Kwai Chung North Development Scheme, New Territories, Hong Kong. Situated to the north of Castle Peak Road near the seven-milestone, the area totals some 93.4 acres.

The area provides sites for two large housing estates, the Shek Lei Resettlement Estate and the Lei Muk Shu Low Cost Housing Estate where eventually a population of 127,000 people will be accommodated. It will also provide sites for various private, residential, school and commercial projects.

Construction of these finishing works is expected to begin this month and will be completed about 12 months later.

PLANNERS' PUBLIC RELATIONS

PLANNERS tend to find that their closest contacts with the public are with those who have something to complain about, says Mr. A.G.S. Danaraj, writing in the journal of the Town Planning Institute (Malaysia and Singapore Branch).

To remedy this he suggests more local planning seminars and exhibitions in which approved planning pro- jects on an appropriate scale could be displayed.

Far East Architect & Builder May, 1967

25