No_4_December_1964 — Page 107

ground floor to roof. This type of structure has been made possible by the use of high strength ready mixed concrete, high tensile steel, and

pre- cast thin walled concrete boxes which form a light weight ribbed beamless floor.

The flat soffit of the beamless floor and the standardised column sizes have made possible the complete standardisation of formwork through- out the building. The columns have been formed with easily handled steel panels whilst the floors have been formed with adjustable steel props and spans and plywood sheeting. This, plus the simplicity of placing the hollow concrete boxes and fixing the reinforcement has enabled the completion of a floor every six days as against the normal time of nine days.

The beamless floor has the added advantage that all air conditioning ducts can be run horizontally tight against the floor soffit without being affected by downward projecting beams. Also of course, all vertical air conditioning and plumbing duct- work can easily be accommodated in the space provided by the removal of any one of the concrete boxes.

There is also the added advantage that the smooth finish which results from the use of the steel formwork will obviate the necessity to plaster the columns.

FUTURE OF HK'S BUILDING INDUSTRY

at

(Continued from page 69)

similar to those which occured The Steel Company of Wales in 1963, between process workers and craftsmea. The situation needs careful watching.

There is no doubt that the joint scheme under the aegis of the Building Contractors' Association and the Y.M. C.A., in training apprentices, as well as various other scheme afoot in the Colony, are excellent and are a step in the right direction to combat the serious shortage of skilled labour which exists in the industry; but much more needs to be done. During the past few years the Chinese system of apprenticeship seems to have, to a very large extent, died out. The blame can partly be laid at the foot of the main contractors who are often only financiers and sublet all their work. The sub-contractors in turn have, with the exception of a few family firms, only been concerned with today: tomorrow and the training of apprentices are left to take care of themselves.

Gammon (H.K.) Ltd. provided the foundations. The work included:-

(1) Breaking out & removal of

existing foundations.

(2) Driving of perimeter steel sheet piles of approx. 320 ft.

run

(3) Construction and installation of 180 Nos. 20′′ dia. Colcrete piles

(4) Excavation and construction of R.C. raft foundation, base- ment retaining walls and columns & ground floor slab

The General Contractor was the Chong Construction Company Limit- ed.

Other contractors and suppliers included.--

brunnang un

There is no doubt that far more must be done, by all concerned, to train young people. There must also be more inducements for them to enter the industry. Moves must be made to increase the status of building workers and for improved working conditions to be brought about. This will include such things as fringe be- nefits and safety and welfare schemes.

For this to be done there appear to be a need for the employment of more direct labour by the main contractors. Also some educational system, such as part-time, day-release for the training of apprentices, where a builder re- leases lads to attend a technical in- stitute for one day a week, should be gradually introduced.

Conclusion

In this short technical paper I have tried to enalyse the problems which I consider exist in the building industry in Hong Kong and to compare these problems with other parts of the world. Most European firms. changing fast and for any building business in England it is a case of "change or decay."

THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER-VOLUME 19, NUMBER 4

are

ELECTRICAL: The British G.E.C.Ltd. WINDOWS: Dodwell and Co. Ltd.

(Crittall). PLUMBING: ASPHALT ROOFING:

Co. Ltd.

Dodwell & Co. Ltd. Dreyer &

Shewan

Butterfield &

FRONTS:

DOOR HARDWARE:

Tomes (Equpt.) Ltd. ROOF SCREEDING: Swire (Vermiculite). ALUMINIUM SHOP Comalco (Asia) Ltd.

VINYL FLOORING: Hope & Co.

Ltd.

WATERPROOFING: William Jacks

& Co. Ltd.

PRECAST TERRAZZO: Vannini

Construction Co. Ltd.

SHUTTERING: Acrow Engineers

(Asia) Ltd.

STAGE

LEFT FORAY

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

PREDAK LANG

13

In Hong Kong it would appear that we need to keep four things always in mind if we are to overcome our problems (incidently by solving certain problems We usual create others) these are:

1) A need for greater technological

knowledge.

2) Greater foresight and more pre-

planning.

3) A more scientific approach to

the solving of our problems. 4) Greater skill in handling labour whether it be as groups or as in- dividuals.

In this paper I have tried to make my criticisms as constructive as pos- sible; at the same time I hope that I have not offended any of my many friends in the building industry in Hong Kong by any of my remarks.

If by presenting this paper I have been able to arouse any enthusiasm for a second industrial revolution in the Colony, of the same type as is sweeping the building industry in other parts of the world, then I shall feel that the writing of this paper has been worthwhile.

101