site, undisturbed soil samples must be obtained from trial boreholes at different spots and depths. From the analysis of these samples, it is possible to estimate the bearing capacity of the soil and the settlement of structures. Special processes such as cement grouting or chemical consolidation may also be recommended from the analysis. This is, of course, a specialized job and only experts on soil mechanics are com- petent to handle the work.
Miscellaneous tests depend entirely on the demand of our industries here. Tentatively we may include under this cate- gory, the testing of refractory materials, fireproof materials, lubricants and plastics.
The scope of work covered by the laboratory can thus serve to test different materials used in our industries, and at the same time help to recommend certain standard specifica- tions that may be useful to our engineering designs.
We are at present not in a position to decide which institution or firm should undertake to run this laboratory. However, it may be interesting to discuss in a broad sense how the laboratory can be managed. Since it is a public laboratory, it may be more appropriate for a public organisa- tion such as the Government. the University, or jointly the Government and the University, to run it. Either the Govern- ment or the University has already possessed certain testing equipments together with the convenience of a workshop which can help to make certain testing equipments or to machine test specimens to specified dimensions. The labora- tory may also, of course, be run as a private company.
Before I conclude I should like to point out the significance of Hongkong as a junction of Eastern and Western interests. Testing facilities provided in this Colony can always render a valuable service to the industrial develop- ment of China and indirectly benefit the export trade of western nations. As Hongkong is in close proximity to cities like Canton, engineering exports from the west to these cities could have certain acceptance tests done here provided of course that our testing facilities cover those not available in China proper. Furthermore, manufacturers of scientific instruments in Britain or elsewhere might even be interested in equipping this public testing laboratory, as the use of many newly developed instruments can be demonstrated right in the laboratory which serves indirectly as a shop window to their potential customers in the East. In this way, it is much nearer and hence more convenient for Chinese customers to come to Hongkong for inspection rather than to travel all the way to Britain to see the British Industrial Fair or other such exhibitions.
Owing to my limited knowledge of material testing, I can only present to you a very rough idea concerning the ques- tion of having in this Colony a public material testing labora- tory. The answer to this question can be found only through your expert opinion on the subject and your personal experience therein. The question of whether circumstances in Hongkong justify the need of establishing a public materials testing laboratory, is now open to discussion.
Immediately after this address the Chairman, Mr. A. W. Black announced that the meeting was thrown open for dis- cussion of this topic. Mr. S. S. Yuen was unable to be present at the meeting but asked that the following comments be read on his behalf.
With the establishment of many new industries and expansion of existing factories, Hongkong becomes one of the important industrial centres in the Eastern Hemisphere. The glorious achievements in the reconstruction and industrializa- tion reflect the joint efforts of many of our members. Bul now, let
us ask ourselves, have we used materials most economically in every respect? Have we ever discarded any local materials because we did not know exactly its properties? Do we ever hesitate to use locally manufactured goods made by our fellow members because we had no reliable comparison between them and the imported goods which were armed with advertisements as well as certified testing records. More specifically, how much did we know about the properties quantitatively of tropical timber, bamboo, rattan and other natural wealth of the Orient? Are we satisfied with the wasting of materials due to a number of regulations which are too conservative and which should have been amended long ago? Because of the fact that we have no material testing laboratory to substantiate our idea of amending these regula- tions we are compelled to waste these natural resources. think that architects and civil engineers would agree with me as to the amount of cement, sand, and steel reinforcement bars which could have been saved during the last three years if only we could bring the designed stress somewhat higher. With more vigorous supervision, I cannot see why we cannot use an allowable direct stress due to bending of ordinary 1:2:4 concrete of 750 lb. per square inch as against the present local code of 600 lb. per square inch.
I
To have an organization dealing with material testing would provide us with a guide of utilizing local materials, a confidence of designing more economically, and a stimulating force for local industries to achieve better standards and extend their market. There should not be much argument on the need of material testing. The problems that remain to be solved are how to do it and what to do?
It would be very expensive to equip a laboratory capable of meeting the need of all branches of engineering. There are, however, a number of private testing laboratories scattered among leading industries and in the university. If we could organize an independent committee, financed and supported
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by industries, the government, the university and professional units, then authorize the use of any of the existing facilities, and to issue certificates of testing records, we may attain our purpose without much expenditure. The members of the committee will be elected from the technical executives of the concerned units. Well qualified full time staff will be employed. Literature, codes and standards on material testing of various countries will be collected. Besides the services rendered to the local industries, there will be a decided pro- gramme of research on local materials, the report of which will be published and sent to subscribing industries, When any problem of specialized character is involved, specialists on these branches will be invited by the Committee to partici- pate and to supervise the work. Sometimes certain research requires other laboratories besides the materials testing one. For example: a study of the local commercial timbers would not be complete without scientific observations, classification of species, and microscopic studies by botanist. Mechanical properties of wood such as shearing strength, compressive strength etc. depend very much on the moisture content, texture and direction of application of force. To the practical engineer, some statistics of the quantities available as well as the costs and wastages are also essential. From this connec- tion it can be seen that the best place for the headquarters of the testing staff would be the university, where a number of other facilities and specialists could be easily available.
Other opinions at the meeting included those of Mr. A. Nicol who amongst other things stated that,
"In considering the problem of whether or not to set up a testing laboratory a matter of prime importance was that any laboratory set up must be of such standing that all would accept the results of its tests.
I am not sure however that Hong Kong required a testing laboratory at the present time and point out that the initial cost of setting one up would be very high. I doubt whether business people would be prepared to meet the cost.
I consider that if a laboratory were to be set up either Government or the University would have to take on the job and think that if the University could be prevailed on to run it as an adjunct to the University, it would be the best solution. It would be quite useless to run it as a practice laboratory for University students; that might be very good from the student's point of view but would be quite unacceptable to those wishing tests carried out,
It was perhaps unfortunate that this matter had been brought up at the present time. Had China been in a settled condition there would have been no doubt that the setting up of a laboratory would be beneficial both to Hong Kong and South China.
Mr. A. W. Black while welcoming the idea of a testing laboratory questioned the extent to which manufacturers in Hong Kong would make use of such an institution. He also said: "It is a well known fact that a great number of articles manufactured in Hong Kong are under suspicion in other countries because of the fact that no recognized system of inspection of materials exists here and, therefore, no certificates of quality accompany articles.
On the other hand many articles manufactured in other countries have been found to be unsatisfactory here because of the arduous climatic conditions. This applies to the electric industry where high humidity has a serious effect on the insulation causing leakage. Tests carried out here might be valuable to manufacturers in other countries.
Mr. A. W. Wood was of the opinion that at this period such an organisation should not be set up due not only to the political situation but also to the expense which would be incurred. He went on to say: "Whereas such an organisation would have definite advantages particularly for local manu- facturers, it is doubtful whether the leading firms in this Colony would subscribe sufficient monies to erect and com- petently staff such a laboratory. On the other hand some of the leading firms in this Colony do possess certain equipments for testing their own products.
In my opinion it would be an advantage if copies and reports of such tests were forwarded to a central bureau where those interested would have access to these reports. This Bureau could be located and administered by the Hong Kong University who would periodically issue to interested mem- bers brief summaries of all reports.
Although it was mentioned by one speaker that they represented firms which manufactured materials already tested at the source of Manufacturer I still am of the opinion that tests carried out on site sometimes brought up facts which were not apparent in the laboratory where conditions were synthetised to conform to climatic conditions in the Tropics.
For example, we had received certain electrical materials from England which in point of fact proved that they were not suitable for the conditions of temperature and humidity in this Colony, and due to the fact that we were able to obtain the services of a leading scientist employed by Messrs. I.C.I. here that we were able to supply our people at Home with the causes and effects of this particular material failing. Similarly with a certain type of underground cable we had experienced this cable being attacked by termites peculiar to this locality and tests are now under way to determine whether a special type of cable would withstand these attacks.
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