No_6_1956 — Page 9

The Director

of

Public Works,

Hong Kong

The new Director of Public Works, Mr. Allan Inglis, A.M.I.C.E., who arrived in Hong Kong on 30th May, 1957, has not yet had time to form any definite opinions but, when asked in an exclusive interview what his first impressions were, stated un- hesitatingly that what impressed him most was the hustle and bustle of this crowded Colony and yet the quite extraordinary orderliness and efficien- ever, except for the erection of build- He was drafted with other officers cy which operated throughout. ings and contracts for large earth- on 13th February, 1942, destination When asked what were the out- works, bridges, etc., most of the work Java, but the ship was sunk en route standing differences he had noticed is done departmentally by labour em- and after some vicissitudes, arrived and with for a tour of service in the Public between building conditions in Hong ployed by Government Kong and in Malaya, he replied that equipment owned and operated by Works Department, Nigeria. two things have impressed him the Department.

In December 1944 he returned to deeply:

Mr. Inglis was educated at the England where he was commissioned First, the speed with which build- Royal High School and Heriot Watt in the Royal Engineers, returned to ings are being erected in Hong Kong College, Edinburgh. He is an Asso- Singapore on 6th September, 1945, as as compared with the progress of ciate Member of the Institution of Garrison Engineer under the British work in any country he had seen and, Civil Engineers and a Chartered Civil Military Administration, attaining the secondly, the extraordinary efficiency Engineer. He served his Pupil Ap- rank of Major. When he reverted to Chinese contracting firms prenticeship under the late J. C. civilian status on 1st April, 1946, he Todd, B.Sc., A.M.I.C.E., A.M.I.M.E., continued with the Public Works District Engineer, L.M.S. Railways, Department. In 1947, he served as Edinburgh, 1923-1927, and continued Joint Secretary of the Salaries Com- in that office as an Assistant Engineer, mission, Singapore and Malaya, under Sir Harry Trusted, Kt. Bach., Q.C.,

of the operating here.

it

1927-1930.

The technical skill and organising ability displayed by contractors on Government work is generally of an extremely high standard, and the quality of workmanship would bear In October 1930, he joined the and as Secretary to the Salaries Com- comparison with that performed any. Colonial Service, spending his first mission for Borneo Territories, Sara- Borneo, also where else in the world. In Malaya tour of four years in Singapore where wak, Brunei, North

was quite common to have to he was concerned with reclamation under Sir Harry Trusted, Kt. Bach., remind contractors to purchase mate- works and the initial stages of Changi Q.C. rials required for a contract and to Prison.

He served in Johore in 1948-1950 press continuously for

for more rapid Mr. Inglis next served in Perak on as Senior Executive Engineer, Kluang; progress to be made.

water supplies and road works and in Selangor in 1951-1953, serving suc- In Hong Kong, however, contractors, was transferred to Johore in January cessively as Deputy State Engineer except for circumstances beyond their 1937 for work on Special Services Selangor, Assistant Director of Public control, seemed to keep within the (Building). The first half of his third Works (Admin.) and Assistant Direc- contract period.

tour was spent in Brunei, Borneo, as tor of Public Works (Buildings).

He was in Perak from 1954 until It is probably this reliability and State Engineer Brunei and the second efficiency of local contractors which half, until the outbreak of the Japan- 22nd May, 1957, as State Engineer has led to the principal difference in ese war, as Personal Assistant to the Perak, when he left to take up his

Public Works new appointment in Hong Kong. operations between the Public Works Director/Adviser of Departments in Hong Kong and in and Director of Civil Aviation.

He was married to Miss Constance Singapore and Malaya. Here the Mr. Inglis was a Sapper with the M. MacLachlan of Edinburgh in 1936, Department employs a very small Straits Settlements Volunteer Force and has two daughters, Dorothy born

then permanent labour force and a mini- (S.R.E.(v)),

Serjeant-Pilot 1938 and Elspeth born 1941. mum of mechanical plant, the bulk with the Malayan Volunteer Air Force pre-war activities, outside of official of the work including maintenance is and finally was commissioned with duties, included rugby, cricket, tennis, handled by contractors. There, how the rank of Captain in the S.S.V.F. swimming and flying.

а

His

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