Children between 15 and 17 were admitted as trainees. The course lasted a year and was free of charge. Practical training included carpentry and building work.
"After a year", said Mr. Wong, "pupils are assigned to construction sites in Hong Kong where they undergo two-month probation period before they are fully qualified as builders."
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Entrance examinations for the next school term were due to be held on August 31.
TUNNEL FRANCHISE GRANTED
THE franchise to construct and operate a tunnel across Hong Kong harbour has now been offered to, and ac- cepted by, the Victoria City Development Co.
Approval in principle of the grant of the franchise was given by the Legislative Council on August 11. The franchise was accepted on August 18 and under it the tunnel must be completed within five years from that date. To be constructed by the submerged tube method. the tunnel will extend from Wanchai, Hong Kong to Hung Hom, Kowloon.
BIDS FOR BANK BUILDING
TENDERS will soon be called for the construction of the first phase of a multi-million dollar building for Bank Negara's permanent offices in Singapore. This calls for the excavation of the site and the foundation piling.
The design and construction of the 17-storey building on a 47,000 sq. ft. site on Robinson Road adjacent to Anson Circus is expected to take about 40 months to complete.
The proposed building will have a three-storey podium, measuring 320 ft. along the Robinson Road facade and 108 ft. deep, with a tower, measuring 177 ft. by 72 ft. rising another 14 storeys above the podium, making a total of 17 storeys with an overall height of 235 ft. above ground level.
There will be a basement and a sub-basement housing the security areas including vaults and car parking space. Total floor area will be 315,000 sq. ft.
Special features of the building, apart from the large security area below ground level, include a spacious bank- ing chamber on the ground floor, an executive suite on the third floor opening on to a roof terrace, and a staff canteen on the fourth floor. Most of the floors in the tower block will be let as office space.
Through the cooperation of the Ministry of National Development in Singapore, the services of the Singapore Public Works Department have been made available to design and supervise the construction of the building.
Expert advice on special security features required is being given by Mr. W.E. Kinsey of the Commonwealth Department of Works, an Australian expert, under the auspices of the Colombo Plan. R. Crooks. Mitchell and
Model of Bank Negara, Singapore
Peacock have been appointed consultants for electrical, mechanical and hydraulic equipment for the project.
HEADQUARTERS IN KUALA LUMPUR
IN THE Malaysian Capital, Kuala Lumpur, a site of about two acres at the apex of Jalan Dato Onn and Jalan Swettenham has been acquired from the Selangor State Government for the new head office building of the Bank Negara. The site is on a low hill, which is being levelled by the Public Works Department as part of a road de- velopinent scheme in the vicinity.
The services of the Government's Public Works De- partment are again being used to design and supervise the construction of the building. It is envisaged that the building will have a total area of approximately 350.000
Artist's sketch of Bank Negara, Kuala Lumpur
sq. ft., about one-third of which will accommodate the banking chamber and security areas including vaults and car parking.
The whole project is likely to be completed in about four years. Details about the building have not yet been released as site work is not expected to commence in the immediate future.
GRANT FOR THAI ROAD
NEW ZEALAND will provide capital and technical assis- tance to the value of £300,000 under the Colombo Plan to help build a road in north-east Thailand.
The N. Z. Government will provide most of the equipment for the road at a cost of £240,000. This will include earthmoving and construction equipment, a field mechanical workshop, surveying instruments, tool kits, a soil mechanics laboratory and spare parts. The New Zealand Army has also agreed to make available on loan several vehicles and a prefabricated steel building.
A New Zealand Army construction group, compris- ing 15 officers and non-commissioned officers, from the Royal New Zealand Engineers, will be sent to Thailand later this year to act as supervisory and instructional per- sonnel for the project. The leader of the group will work under the control of the Thai project authorities.
Thai Government's contribution will represent over 80 per cent of the total estimated cost of the project, which is about £2 million. Construction of the road will open up large areas of north-east Thailand, which at present lack proper road communication.
Canada has offered to assist in the survey of a project- ed highway from Bangkok via Samud Sakorn and Samud Songram to Rajburi. It will allot US$300,000 for the work.
than 600 army
From the United States, more
Far East Architect & Builder September, 1965
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