6.75
Consultants were commissioned to undertake an investigation of quarries and their report was made available during the year. The report studied the quarrying industry in Hong Kong and made recommendations with a view to planning the territory's quarry industry for the next ten to fifteen years.
6.76
Although financial restrictions delayed progress, the current programme of modernisation and development for both quarries was kept in view so that further improvements in efficiency may be made.
Private Quarries
6.77
Production of crushed stone from the six private quarries operated under Government contract was less than last year due to a reduction in demand from the private sector.
6.78
Continuing the Government programme of improving control over private quarries, another quarry operating on a short-term Crown Land Licence was phased out during the year and only one now remains under licence. The programme requires private quarries to be operated under long-term Government contracts and six are now in operation. During the year, two additional long-term contract quarries came into production, one of which combined two existing sites so that the total number of contracts remained the same.
6.79
With greater control over the contract quarries, restrictions on the maximum height of face which may be worked were enforced. Working face heights may not now exceed 25 metres and this will improve safety conditions in the quarries and also lead to more efficient working as benches are developed. For the first time in recent years, no fatal accident due to face working occurred in any of the quarries.
Laboratory
6.80
The testing of construction materials for Government departments and the public is carried out at the main P.W.D. Laboratory at North Point and at the branch laboratory at Farm Road, Kowloon. Quarry laboratories at Diamond Hill and Mount Butler test materials produced by the quarries to ensure that they meet specification requirements and to assist in quality control.
6.81
The total number of tests carried out by the laboratories was 90,128, of which 9,346 were for private firms. The total again represents a slight increase over the previous year.
6.82
New testing equipment purchased during the year to meet the increasing demands upon the laboratory includes a 1000 kN Universal Testing Machine, which was installed at the North Point Laboratory.
Sand Monopoly
6.83
The Sand Monopoly operates to protect beaches and river banks by regulating the collection and sale of natural sand. Sand required for building purposes is rarely taken from waters adjacent to the coastline of Hong Kong but is dredged from the seabed in coastal waters not adjacent to the Hong Kong coastline under Government contract and by special arrangements with the Chinese authorities.
Page 75
Page 76
6.75
Consultants were commissioned to undertake an investigation of
The report Quarries and their report was made available during the year. studied the quarrying industry in Hong Kong and made recommendations with a view to planning the territory's quarry industry for the next ten to fifteen years.
6.76
Although financial restrictions delayed progress, the current programme of modernisation and development for both quarries was kept in view so that further improvements in efficiency may be made.
Private Quarries
6.77
Production of crushed stone from the six private quarries operated under Government contract was less than last year due to a reduction in demand from the private sector.
6.78
Continuing the Government programme of improving control over private quarries another quarry operating on a short-term Crown Land Licence was phased out during the year and only one now remains under licence. The programme requires private quarries to be operated under long-term Government contracts and six are now in operation. During the year two additional long-term contract quarries came into production one of which combined two existing sites so that the total number of contracts remained the same.
6.79
With greater control over the contract quarries, restrictions on the maximum height of face which may be worked were enforced. Working face heights may not now exceed 25 metres and this will improve safety conditions in the quarries and also lead to more efficient working as benches are developed. For the first time in recent years no fatal accident due to face working occurred in any of the quarries.
Laboratory
6.80
The testing of construction materials for Government departments and the public is carried out at the main P.W.D. Laboratory at North Point and at the branch laboratory at Farm Road, Kowloon. Quarry laboratories at Diamond Hill and Mount Butler test materials produced by the quarries to ensure that they meet specification requirements and to assist in quality control.
6.81 The total number of tests carried out by the laboratories was 90,128 of which 9,346 were for private firms. The total again represents a slight increase over the previous year.
6.82
New testing equipment purchased during the year to meet the increasing demands upon the laboratory includes a 1000 kN Universal Testing Machine which was installed at the North Point Laboratory.
Sand Monopoly
6.83
The Sand Monopoly operates to protect beaches and river banks by regulating the collection and sale of natural sand. Sand required for building purposes is rarely taken from waters adjacent to the coastline of Hong Kong but is dredged from the seabed in coastal waters not adjacent to the Hong Kong coastline under Government contract and by special arrangements with the Chinese authorities.
61
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