CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE
Government Civil Engineer:
J. ALEXANDER, B.Sc. (Eng.), A.M.I.C.E.
Assistant Government Civil Engineers:
G. J. SKELT, B.Sc. (Eng.), A.C.G.I., D.I.C., A.M.I.C.E.
J. R. WHITAKER, M.A., M.I.C.E., M.I.Mun.E., Mem.I.T.E.
T. K. HUM, M.Eng. (McGill), A.M.I.C.E., M.E.I.C. (Canada) (Acting)
GENERAL
4.01. The Civil Engineering Office is responsible for all civil engineering work carried out by Government, with the exception of that connected with water supply. The works are divided between seven divisions with specific responsibilities as set out in the organization chart on page 31. Either owing to shortage of staff or because of the need for specialist knowledge, a limited amount of this work is put out to consulting engineers. Although most works, including maintenance, are carried out by contract, a direct labour force is employed for the operation of the two Government quarries and routine minor maintenance to roads and drains.
4.02. As in previous years the Office maintained a 24-hour skeleton organization for dealing with any emergencies which may arise. This is reinforced during the wet season and is readily expanded to deal with typhoon and rainstorm damage. The organization was fully tested with the occurrence, on Sunday, 12th June, of what has now become known as the 'June Rainstorm'. The first 11 days of June were perhaps not abnormal but nevertheless over 15" of rain fell during this period. On Sunday the 12th, therefore, the ground was completely sodden and on this day a further 15" of rain fell. This is the highest daily total ever recorded at the Royal Observatory for the month of June and the third highest recorded for any month. Of this total 4.26" were recorded at the Royal Observatory between the hours of 7 and 8 a.m., which is the highest figure recorded there for a one-hour period but over 5" of rain fell during this hour on a wide area of Hong Kong Island with a peak of 5.51" at Aberdeen. This rain coupled with the saturated ground condition caused approximately 500 landslides, mostly on Hong Kong Island of which some dozen were of a size which either completely blocked or caused the collapse of a road. These landslides also blocked many of the main stormwater drains so that widespread flooding occurred in the low lying parts of Victoria, Wan Chai and North Point where traffic on several important roads was brought to a stand-still.
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CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE
Government Civil Engineer:
J. ALEXANDER, B.Sc. (Eng.), A.M.I.C.E.
Assistant Government Civil Engineers:
G. J. SKELT, B.Sc. (Eng.), A.C.G.I., D.I.C., A.M.I.C.E.
J. R. WHITAKER, M.A., M.I.C.E., M.I.Mun.E., Mem.I.T.E.
T. K. HUM, M.Eng. (McGill), A.M.I.C.E., M.E.I.C. (Canada) (Acting)
GENERAL
4.01. The Civil Engineering Office is responsible for all civil engi- neering work carried out by Government, with the exception of that connected with water supply. The works are divided between seven divisions with specific responsibilities as set out in the organization chart on page 31. Either owing to shortage of staff or because of the need for specialist knowledge, a limited amount of this work is put out to consulting engineers. Although most works, including main- tenance, are carried out by contract, a direct labour force is employed for the operation of the two Government quarries and routine minor maintenance to roads and drains.
4.02. As in previous years the Office maintained a 24-hour skeleton organization for dealing with any emergencies which may arise. This is reinforced during the wet season and is readily expanded to deal with typhoon and rainstorm damage. The organization was fully tested with the occurrence, on Sunday, 12th June, of what has now become known as the 'June Rainstorm'. The first 11 days of June were perhaps not abnormal but nevertheless over 15" of rain fell during this period. On Sunday the 12th, therefore, the ground was completely sodden and on this day a further 15" of rain fell. This is the highest daily total ever recorded at the Royal Observatory for the month of June and the third highest recorded for any month. Of this total 4.26′′ were recorded at the Royal Observatory between the hours of 7 and 8 a.m., which is the highest figure recorded there for a one-hour period but over 5" of rain fell during this hour on a wide area of Hong Kong Island with a peak of 5.51" at Aberdeen. This rain coupled with the saturated ground condition caused approximately 500 landslides, mostly on Hong Kong Island of which some dozen were of a size which either completely blocked or caused the collapse of a road. These landslides also blocked many of the main stormwater drains so that widespread flooding occurred in the low lying parts of Victoria, Wan Chai and North Point where traffic on several important roads was brought to a stand-still.
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