HONG KONG PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Summary of Progress for January, February and March, 1950.
ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE
King's Park Flats--Approval has been obtained for the provision of an additional pump to the water supply.
New Residence for Hon, Colonial Secretary-Schemes pre- pared previous to the period of this report have been aban- doned, and a fresh start was made in January with sketch plans for a formal type of residence. The scheme, which was approved by H.E. The Governor was submitted to the Secretariat with a report and estimate of cost. To expedite the work, plans are being prepared with a view to the contract being carried out in two parts; (a) site works and foundations (b) the main contract.
Proposed New Secretariat & Government Offices-A meeting was held to discuss the question of air-conditioning. It was agreed that it would be possible to prepare rough plans for the whole building and detailed plans for the east wing up to the central block without a definite decision being taken about air-conditioning, the east wing being so designed as to allow for a simple conversion to air-conditioning at a later stage. A questionnaire has been prepared to be filled in by heads of departments to be housed in new offices. Reference has been made to the Executive Engineer of Roads & Tunnels Office on the question of building over A.R.P. Tunnels.
Police Stations-The Shaukiwan Police Station was com- pleted on 21st March, and occupied on the 22nd. The Police Department have asked for Bostwick gates to be fitted to the main entrance and additional external lighting for security reasons. These requests are being met. Work on Bayview, Hunghom and Kowloon City Police Stations continued satis- factorily.
Regarding Police Stations in the New Territories, con- tracts were signed on 26th January for Sai Kung, Sha Tin and Castle Peak Police Stations. Revised plan and specifica- tions were drawn up for Police Station at Tsun Wan, and tenders were received on 17th March. The site at Sha Tau Kok was visited by the Police on 21st March, and sketch plans are being prepared.
A Gazette Notice calling for tenders for Asiatic Police Quarters appeared on 4th April, whilst indent for metal windows has already gone forward. Sketch scheme for a recreation centre adjoining these quarters are being prepared; working drawings are held over until tenders are received for the quarters, in order that the balance of funds available will be known.
Schools-The contract for King's College Primary School was signed on 6th March; 15% of concreting work has been completed and working drawings are being prepared as work proceeds.
Tenders were called for Queen's College, Causeway Bay, on 20th March; it is anticipated that the contract will be signed on 17th April. The contract period is very short for a building of this size, but all possible steps are being taken to ensure completion by 11th September, 1950.
Contract for the Vernacular Primary School, Gap Road, was also signed during March, and by 31st March 80% of the foundation had been excavated, shuttering and reinforcement set in position and concreting started. A considerable amount of difficulty was experienced with excavation due to bad ground.
All work on the Temporary La Salle College is now completed with the exception of the turfing which is deferred until the rainy season. It is understood that the scheme for proposed hostel is now to be abandoned. Caretakers quarters for both the school and the hostel were to be included in the hostel building; separate caretakers quarters for the school should now be provided.
Miscellaneous-Work is progressing satisfactorily on the Marine Licensing Station, Cheung Chau, and the contractor should manage to complete the job within scheduled time. Drawings for Marine Licensing Stations, Aberdeen and Yaumati, are now completed.
Working drawings and specifications for the Kowloon T.B. Clinic are now completed, and tenders will be called some time in April. Sketch plans and estimates for New Fire Station, Kowloon, and for Radio-Sonde Station, King's Park, have been submitted to Hon, the Director of Public Works. The site for the proposed Offices and Quarters for Inland Revenue, Fanling, was visited with the Inland Revenue representative on 22nd March.
BUILDING AUTHORITY'S OFFICE
Tabulated Summary of Activities Jan., Feb. & Mar. 1950.
Total Jan. Feb. Mar.
No. of Plans Received
No. of Houses and Other Buildings
covered by plans received
No. of Plans approved
No. of Houses and Other Buildings
covered by plans approved
964
316
267
381
1687
570
488
629
1125
411
247
467
2009
633 612
764
134 Domestic Permits were issued for 86 European type houses, 152 Chinese type houses, 7 staff quarters. 3 European type flats at Quarry Bay, 1 apartment building, top floor of Zetland Hall, 2nd to 5th floors of Tricity House, 1 assembly hall and dormitories for St. Stephen's College, 7 upper floors and 10 temporary sheds.
In addition, 61 occupation permits were issued for non- domestic buildings, which included 5 factories, 1 additional building to factory, 4 godowns, 1 cotton mill, stores and pump- house at Taikoo Dockyard, 1 boiler house, 1 iron foundry; 1 school and 1 class-room building; 13 shops and restaurant fronting at King's Road; 12 basements; Zetland Hall: Architec- tural & Engineering Building for H.K.U.; and various stores, sheds, etc.
61 dangerous buildings notices were served affecting 69 houses; 26 notices affecting 38 houses were served under Section 104 & 126 of the Buildings Ordinance 1935; 143 notices affecting illegal structures, with 4 prosecutions, 399 inspec- tions and reports were made in regard to structural stability and of premises to be licensed by other Departments; 213 tests inspections of drainage system to various districts were also carried out.
DRAINAGE OFFICE
General maintenance work including the clearing and repairs to sewers, stormwater drains, nullahs and channels and the replacement of covers, gratings and traps was con- tinued.
The construction of a chlorinating tank for sterilizing the effluent from the Repulse Bay septic tank and extensive repairs to the invert of the Sing Woo Road Nullah were put in hand.
Reinstatement of a sewer was carried out on re-entered property in Observatory Road.
Works executed on Private Account consisted of sewers extended by 132 ft., urgent repairs made to private sewers in the Waterworks Catchment Areas and nullah walls cut to permit the laying of electric cables in Hong Kong and on the Mainland, the extension of the nullah at the side of N.K.I.L.3547. Also 181 ft. of walling and 265 ft. of invert were constructed.
62 orders were issued and 60 sewer and or stormwater connections made on the Island and 30 and 40 respectively on the Mainland.
For works contingent on land sales, 9 orders were issued and 9 sewer and/or stormwater connections made on the Island, while on the Mainland the figures were 14 and 10 respectively. In addition the Government sewers and storm- water drains were extended by 1094 ft. and 1505 ft. respec- tively on the Island and by 1668 ft. and 4185 ft. respectively on the Mainland. A proportion of the work carried out on the nullah at the side of N.K.I.L. 3547 was charged against this Head.
At Fo Pang Valley the steel joists supporting the aqueduct were cut out and all outstanding works completed.
CROWN LANDS & SURVEYS OFFICE
Land Sales by Public Auction
DATE
Lot No.
LOCATION
20/3/50 K.I.L. 6072 Kowloon City Road
27/3/50 N.K.I.L.3584 Pei Ho Street adj. N.K.I.L.3571 (W)
11
N.K.I.L.3585
do.
(E)
(St. Ft.) AREA
UPSET PRICE
SALES PRICE
4,170
$20,850.00
$55,000.00
1,400
14,000.00
14,000.00
84,800.00
1,400
During this quarter under review, 78 applications for purchases of Crown Land, including extensions to existing lots, exchanges, grants, etc., were received. 3 lots were sold by Public Auction realising a sum of $149,800.00 and 3 lots amounting to $409,830,00 were sold by Private Treaty. Exten- sion of time for completion of Building Covenants was granted to 5 lots, fines being imposed in each case; new Crown Leases were granted in respect of 6 lots. 3 lots were granted in
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198
exchange whilst extensions were granted to 10 lots. permits were issued for temporary leasing of Crown Land, the total annual fee amounting to $142,640.00.
Routine survey work, setting out of sites for sale and town planning and the reconstruction of records and permanent survey marks were continued.
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