Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 229

HONGKONG.

225

No. 22

98

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR 1897.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

No. 214.

SIR, I have the honour to forward my Annual Report for 1897.

I have the honour to be,

The Honourable

THE ACTING COLONIAL Secretary.

PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE, HONGKONG, 26th April, 1898.

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

R. D. ORMEBY, Director of Public Works.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR 1897.

The expenditure of the Public Works Department is incurred under two heads, "Annually Recurrent" and "Extraordinary," the funds being obtained from General Revenue, and from the loan raised under Ordinance No. 2 of 1893. A certain portion of the expenditure is charged to the Special Revenue from Water.

The total expenditure under Annually Recurrent votes in 1897 was.. Under Public Works Extraordinary....

Total..............

.$207,174.70

453,894.70

$661,069.40

Of this sum $464,995.24 came from General Revenue and $196.074.16 from the loan. Of the expenditure a sum of $169,558.19 was incurred on water works and was charged to the special item of revenue for water account.

Mr. CHATHAM, who was in charge of the Department as acting Director of Public Works for the greater part of the year, has submitted a report giving details of work done under the different headings and including Mr. MALSCH's report on Crown Lands and Mr. CROOK's report on water and drainage works, from which I quote as follows:-

1

ANNUALLY RECURRENT WORKS.

1. Repairs to Buildings.-The whole of the buildings have been maintained in a satisfactory con- dition except Crosby Store, which, though still utilized, is practically beyond repair. In several instances considerable renewals were rendered necessary owing to the ravages of white ants and wherever practicable these have been effected in such a manner as to avoid a repetition of the damage by these destructive insects in future. The Pavilions, which were in such a condition as to be unfit for occupation, have been let on a 3 years' lease for the purposes of the Peak Club.

2. Maintenance of Telegraphs.--New telephone lines have been run from No. 7 Police Station to the Chinese Detective Office in New Street and the house of one of the Assistant Surgeons in the Medical Department, and a third line has been run from the Victoria Gap Police Station to the Water Inspector's Bungalow at Victoria Peak, thus placing all three houses in connection with the Government Exchange at the Central Police Station.

The telephone lines in Kowloon have been re-arranged so as to establish a central exchange at the Water Police Station, Tsimshatsui; and this Exchange has been placed in direct communication with the Government Exchange in the City.