No_6_October_-_November_-_December__1958 — Page 48

Applications

HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY Report for the period 1st October 31st December, 1958

At the end of December, the Housing Authority had issued 43,051 application forms for accommodation, and 22,580 completed forms had been returned. 9,382 visits to the homes of applicants had been carried out, and

10,144 personal interviews given at the head office.

L'isits

Visitors to the Authority's estates included a delegation, comprising five Members of Parliament, of the U.K. Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association,

North Point Estate

is

and are being let. Over 300 flats in these piling contract for this section in the near blocks have now been occupied. The future. Messrs. Chau & Lee's plans for

C, remaining two blocks, B and are Blocks A, B, C, D & M have been ap- expected to be finished in mid-February, proved by the P.W.D., and the Bill of Messrs. 1959, and will be occupied as soon as Quantities being prepared. possible thereafter.

Leigh & Orange's plans for Blocks S, T and U have not yet been approved by the It is necessary to sink another well to P.W.D.,

but a piling contract for that obtain an adequate supply of flushing section has been awarded to the Vibro water during the dry season : this work Piling Co. Ltd., in the sum of $835,176.00. is now in hand. The godown accommoda-

It is hoped to start piling work in tion, although advertised in the local

February: it will take 3-4 months to the estate has been entrusted to the South the whole project has been adopted, with press,

Insurance of has not yet been let.

complete. A target progress schedule for British Insurance Co.

So Uk Estate

Site formation at So Uk has not made

staggered completion dates for the various blocks, in order to reduce letting difficul- ties.

The final overall value of the general contract was just over $zz.5m, and it is

particularly good progress during this Messrs. Rediffusion (Hong Kong) Ltd., anticipated that the total cost of the period: the contractor has now been asked have agreed to put in their main cables, estate will be approximately $32.7m (the to expedite the engineering works, but in at no cost to the Authority, while the loan from Government to finance the any case to vacate the site by 1st February, various blocks are being constructed. Con- project was for $33m). Government has 1959, so that piling can start. So far over nections to individual flats will be wired now decided to abandon the proposal to 213,000 cu.yds. of earth and 28,500 cu. when tenants ask for service. construct a vehicular ferry terminal on yds. of rock have been excavated, and the concourse (it will now be sited on the area now occupied by the Sand Monopoly, immediately to the east of the estate).

164,000 cu.yds. of filling carried out. Clearwater Bay Road 33,000 cu.yds. of earth have been removed Messrs. Palmer & Turner have been to the dump at Cheungshawan.

invited to undertake the architectural

Road, Kowloon, development of the site at Clearwater Bay with densities between

ex-

over $6m,

1500-2000 to the acre, and to house about 30,000 people.

The P.W.D. has been asked to proceed 51 out of the 71 shops on the estate with the installation of sewers, drains, have now been let, and arrangements are water supplies, and the construction of being made to let the remainder. All the internal roads (at the Authority's 1955 flats on the estate are occupied, pense), and with street lighting. The Ma Tau Chung with a total population of over 12,400 Conditions of Grant have been executed, people. Although the estate has now been and premium for the land, occupied for over a year, with a monthly paid to Government. rent bill of nearly $250,000, arrears of rent amount to less than $3,000. Only two notices to quit have been served tenants: one was in arrears with his rent, and the other had sub-let part of his flat.

Sai Wan Chuen

on

Planning of development of the site at Ma Tau Chung continues.

Tenders for the general contract for the Finances construction of Blocks E, F, G, H & I The Authority now owes Government have been invited by Mr. W. Szeto, and $46,839,602.23, the major proportion of the lift contract for that section has been which has been spent on the North Point awarded to The British G.E.C. Ltd., in Estate. Interest payments to Government the sum of $507,500. Mr. Luke's plans are running at an average of $143.500 a The general contract is making satisfac- for Blocks P, Q and R have been approved month. Interest ΟΠ the North Point tory progress, and Blocks A, D, and E by the P.W.D. and the Bill of Quantities capital loan, amounting to $572,107.30 have been handed over to the Authority is being prepared: it is hoped to let the has already been paid.

FIRM FOUNDATIONS FOR ALL TYPES OF STRUCTURES

VIBRO PILING

COMPANY, LIMITED

Licensees of

The British Steel Piling Co., Ltd.

King's House, Haymarket, London.

Alexandra House (2nd Floor), Hong Kong

Telephone: 37891

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