Resettlement_Department_Annual_Report_1967-1968 — Page 53

two geographical districts, each under a Resettlement Officer (Technical). An Area Officer (Technical) is stationed in each estate to supervise the work carried out by the maintenance contractor or the department's own labour force.

Estate & Factory Sections

121. The department took over 31 new residential blocks, 9 govern- ment estate schools and 5 individual restaurants from the Public Works Department during the year, making a total of 453 residential blocks, 22 factory blocks, 26 government estate schools and 5 individual restaurants maintained by the division. Estate buildings suffer from considerable wear and tear because of the high population density, and 950 major and 78,054 minor repair jobs in estates and factories were carried out during the year as against 868 and 64,808 respectively last year. Expenditure on the maintenance of estates and factories amounted to $4,273,000.

122. In addition to day-to-day maintenance, the division carried out the following phased programme of works:

(i) repainting of 98 blocks;

(ii) repairs to concrete arising from the corrosion of steel reinforcing

bars, and flaking or cracked concrete;

(iii) replacement of old cast-iron plumbing installations with plastic

pipes and vitreous china salt water-resistant equipment;

(iv) replacement of stopcocks and spring-loaded taps with special

'waste-not' taps;

(v) replacement of existing G.I. salt water rising mains by P.V.C.

pipes;

(vi) replacement of wooden doors by screen walls in the public

latrines;

(vii) reconstruction and repairs of leaking latrine troughs and flooring

in public washing areas and latrines in old blocks;

(viii) replacement of damaged asbestos refuse chutes in Mark IV

blocks;

(ix) repairs to damaged courtyards;

(x) repairs to damaged roof felt membrane and replacement of

concrete roofing tiles.

44