No_6_1956 — Page 21

TWO PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIALS RETIRE

John Forbes, O. B. E.

.

Mr. Forbes,

Forbes, Mr. Inglis said Mr. tor of the Public Works Department Forbes conformed to the very best in 1950. He acted in this capacity on type of Colonial civil servant, "hard three occasions totalling over two working, hard-playing, loyal and im- years, and he was confirmed in the patient of red-tape for its own sake...' appointment in October 1954. He has "What a gold-mine of knowledge and acted as Director of Public Works experience we are losing by his retire from January this year till the end of ment! That experience built up of May. He was honoured by the Queen over 28 years is well-nigh irreplace by the award, justly merited, of the able and the debt that Hong Kong 0.B.E. early this year. owes to Mr. Forbes is a great one.'

He went on leave in September

Mr. Forbes, in his reply, said in 1941 and, of course, was unable to pari: "I now stand where I have return due to the outbreak of hostili- watched many others stand at the ties in the Far East. He was appoint- departing end and I now appre- ed as Executive Civil Engineer in ciate how they must have felt, and Sierra Leone in 1942, but reverted to that is with very mixed feelings in the Public Works Department, Hong deed. One cannot spend half a life- Kong, in 1944 when he was attached time in a place without feeling some to the Hong Kong Planning Unit, regret at leaving the well-known Colonial Office. He arrived in Hong scenes and well-known faces, and at Kong as Lieut. Col. S.O.I. Works, the same

time there is a feeling of British Civil Affairs Unit, Military relief at the relaxation of tension from Administration in 1945 and became the strenuous duties of these modern Acting Waterworks Engineer in May 1946, when the Colony reverted to

in the Roads Office early in 1929 and

Mr. Forbes was appointed Engineer civil administration.

was John Forbes arrived in Hong Kong to take up his popular man

a deservedly not only amongst his appointment on 20th June of that Government colleagues, but amongst year. After serving in the Port Works all classes in the community. His Office in 1931, he went to the Water- retirement from the Colony will be works Office in March 1932, in which keenly felt amongst his wide circle of department he remained until his first friends whose good wishes go with Presenting the tray and watch to appointment as Acting Deputy Direc- him.

At the Architectural Drawing Office, P.W.D. on 28th June, 1957, Mr. John times." Forbes, O.B.E., B.Sc., M.I.Č.E.. Chartered Civil Engineer, was present ed with a watch and silver tray by the Hon. Allan Inglis, Director of Public Works, before a large gathering of P.W.D. Staff members, on the occa sion of his going on leave prior to retirement.

RH. Woodman

obtained an appointment in the Waterworks Office has largely been P.W.D., Hong Kong, in 1929, and spent on the important work of sup- when he arrived was posted to the ply and distribution, although he has Waterworks Office. He remained in also designed and supervised some of this Office until 1949, when he was the extensions to the system, and his transferred to the Drainage Office to wide knowledge of the work of the act as Executive Engineer, being pro- office was most valuable immediately moted to the substantive rank of after the war and in the recent diffi- Executive Engineer, in 1950. In 1951 cult years when our water resources he was transferred to take charge of have been so hopelessly inadequate to the Roads Office and, in accordance supply the rapidly increasing popula- with a newly adopted policy in the tion and the growth of industry. Department, his title was changed to that of Chief Engineer.

In 1952 he was posted to Head quarters to act as Assistant Director, Engineering, and, at the same_time,

he was also a member of the Traffic Advisory Committee.

Mr. John Forbes, speaking at the farewell gathering at the Public Works Department, said:

"I am sure you will agree that we are sorry to see Mr. Woodman leave the Department, and now on behalf of you all I wish him and his wife Mr. R. H. Woodman, B.Sc. (Eng): the Waterworks Office, attaining the retirement, and have pleasure in pre- In 1953 he was transferred back to good health and every happiness in Waterworks Engineer, proceeded on leave on 5th June, prior to retirement substantive rank of Waterworks En- senting him with this inscribed silver He served nearly 28 years in the gineer in 1954, and remained Colony, and a large part of this has charge until his retirement. been in the Waterworks Office. He Mr. Woodman's service in

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in

tray and a set of candlesticks as a token of our esteem and to remind the him of the years he spent with us.'