Sessional_Paper_1895 — Page 525

HONGKONG.

521

No. 35

95

REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DURING THE FIRST HALF-YEAR 1895.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

No. 331.

PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE, HONGKONG, 3rd August, 1895.

SIR,I have the honour to report on the work of this department for the first half of the current year as follows:-

ANNUAL RECURRENT WORKS.

2. Repairs to Buidings.-The ravages of white ants have necessitated considerable expenditure on some of the Government buildings, especially on Queen's College, the Lunatic Asylums and Government Civil Hospital.

With the exception of Sai-ying-pun and Yau-na-ti Markets and the drainage of Hung Hom Police Station and of the Officers' Quarters, Stonecutter's Island, the works done under this heading have been mainly that of miscellaneous repairs.

3. Maintenance of Telegraphs.-The telegraphic and telephonic systems have been maintained in a satisfactory condition. The wooden poles on the line from Stanley to Shaukiwan have been replaced by iron ones, and similar work is now in progress on the line from Pokfulam to Aberdeen.

Telephonic communication has been established between Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Police Stations, and between the Colonial Secretary's Office and the Civil Hospital.

4. Public Cemetery. In addition to the usual work of maintenance, a small extension has been carried out on the north side adjoining the Roman Catholic Cemetery, and an additional fountain has been constructed.

5. Praya Wall and Piers.-The praya wall and piers so far as desirable owing to the progress of the Reclamation Works have been kept in a satisfactory state of repair. Some damages to the praya wall in front of the Wharf and Godown Co.'s premises, Kowloon, caused by the objectionable practice of removing stones from the rubble foundations for ballasting ships,, have been made good.

6. Lighthouses.-The lighthouses have been kept in an efficient state of repair.

In addition to the ordinary repairs, iron shutters and strong wooden doors have been fitted to the exposed windows and door openings in the Light Keepers' Quarters, Tower, and Water Tank of the Gap Rock Lighthouse.

7. Dredging Foreshores.--The dredger since her repair has been engaged in removing material from Causeway Bay and from the approach to the temporary wharf in front of the New Market.

The dredger has been lent for short periods to the Military Authorities and the Wharf and Godown Co.

.

8. Miscellaneous Works. The principal works carried out under this heading are the construction of retaining walls in the Glenealy Ravine above Robinson Road, the repair of the Tytam filter beds, the repair of the conduit and slope south of Inland Lot 932, the removal of silt from the Pokfulam reservoir, and the construction of retaining walls and making good the surface where the bank slip- ped at the Magazine Gap end of the Mount Gough Road.

The only work in progress is the construction of a slipway at the Police dock basin, Kowloon.

9. Maintenance of Roads and Bridges.-The roads and bridges throughout the Colony have been maintained without any exceptional expenditure.

10. Maintenance of Water Works.-No exceptional expenditure other than that mentioned under the heading Miscellaneous Works has been incurred in connection with water works. The yield of the catchment areas proved insufficient for the continuance of the constant supply during April and May.

11. Maintenance of Sewers.-The sewers have been maintained in as satisfactory a condition as existing circumstances, pointed out in my last annual report, permit.

Page 525Page 526