Sessional_Paper_1916 — Page 5

1

No.

1 1916

HONGKONG.

KOWLOON RAILWAY STATION,

REPORT ON PROGRESS UP TO 31ST DECEMBER, 1915.

..

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, February 24th, 1916.

Kang On's Contract has now run for 22 months out of the 2 years.

All masonry both brickwork and granite work has been completed for some time. and with the exception of the tower has been cleaned down. The cleaning down of the tower will be commenced early in January, 1916.

With the exception of the three rooms adjoining the tower, which cannot be roofed until the tower scaffolding is removed, all other rooms are well forward; the plaster work, fixing of doors and windows, flooring, and fireplaces being completed in most

cases.

The paving to ground floor areas is well in hand, all granite paving being completed and more than half the wood paving.

Owing to serious delay in the supply of sanitary and lavatory fittings ordered through the Crown Agents, much of the work has been held up for several months and is being so still. Water piping, the completion of lavatory and other floors, closet walls, the laying of tiles to dadoes and flooring, drainage and connections to sewers is at a complete standstill. The excuse for delay given by the Manufacturers to the Crown Agents is that "their works have been unfortunate in the manufacture of the pottery parts and they have had to remake". With this very regrettable exception, and the lighting conductors which are due in the Colony now, all other requisitions through the Crown Agents for the building have been delivered in good time.

A further cause of delay to the completion of the contract is anticipated with regard to electric wiring and fittings, which are being supplied through a local firm, they finding it very difficult to obtain this class of work from England at the present time.

Of the amount of Kang On's Contract namely $173,847, there has been paid on account of work done to date approximately $135,800.

It is yet hoped that the contract may be completed to time, though if not, no blame can be attributed to Kang On.