1957-1958 — Page 28

were beyond the control of the contractors, Messrs. Mei Hon & Co., they were granted an extension of time for completion until 14th July, 1957, when the work was eventually completed (exactly one year after commencement, and double the contracted period). The cost of site formation, including the piling of retaining walls on the eastern boundary, was $850,669.55. Almost all of this amount will be covered by the grant of $840,000, from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds, leaving just over $10,000 to be charged against the loan.

It was found necessary to pile the site of Block C, where the soil would not support a load of 3 tons per sq. ft. required for mass con- crete foundations, and this contract was awarded to the Hong Kong Engineering & Construction Co. in the sum of $192,000.

Tenders for the main building contract were received in June 1957, and the contract awarded on 15th July, 1957, to Messrs. Wan Hin & Co. in the sum of $6,300,236.02. Time for completion was originally nine months but this was later extended by three months to 15th July, 1958. Work started in September, with the excavation for the founda- tions of Blocks C and D (which went down over 30 feet). Extensive scaffolding had to be erected from the upper reaches of the site to convey spoil for back-filling. The typhoon in September caused relatively little damage, apart from one or two small landslides and burial of the column footings of Block D.

As soon as the foundations for Block E were completed, construction of the buildings started, and by the end of the period under review good progress had been made, the reinforced concrete frames of Blocks A and E having been completed to 8th floor level, and that for Block D to roof-top height. Over 250 workmen were employed on the site daily. A number of variations in the general contract were notified, involving additional expenditure of $221,376.26. The largest was for $168,879.28 for making good the site at the rear of Block B.

A number of sub-contracts, details of which can be found in Appendix V, were let and the lift contract (for six lifts) was awarded to the Jardine Engineering Corporation in the sum of $353,600.

Arrangements were made for the construction of an electrical sub- station for the Hong Kong Electric Company between Blocks A and B, at a central position to reduce the length of supply cables for all blocks. Government agreed to assume responsibility for street lighting of the portion of the approach road outside the boundaries of the site; lighting of the approach steps and paths from Cadogan Street will be the Authority's responsibility.

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