.
1
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1933.
NON-CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS
ARCHITECT EXAMINED.
MR. LANE REFUSES TO ANSWER COUNSEL ON PERSONAL BUSINESS MATTERS.
BALCONY COLLAPSE INQUIRY.
A sharp passage between Mr. M. K. Lo, representing the owner, and Mr. A. J. Lane, the architect, marked the renewed hearing yesterday of the Inquiry into the deaths of Jessic Honson (11), and Cheng Tal, an amah, who were killed in a balcony collapse at 15 Yuk Sau Street, on June 3.
Mr. Lane objected to questions being asked of his relations with Mr. Tong Kwong-hing, the draftsman, and said he was not going to have his office affairs discussed by Mr. Lo or given · out in Court. He declined to answer Counsel's question at
one stage.
was
LEFT
correct,
FOR
you show them to me in one of that he is lying, and did not make portance of keeping the steel work theso. plans 7--The expansion an Inspection. stcola run the length of the bal- cony siden.
balcony rods
When you say the boltery hou?
4
No Inspection Made.. Lane did not make an inspection. Mr. Lo-I do suggest that Mr.
In the correct position.
This is purely a Coroner's inquest, In the balcony which has col-question is irrelevant I will not and if your Worship thinks the lapsed, where are these expansion ask it. steels 7-On top.
Was the concrete of which the might put the suggestions in some collapsed, balcony was made good other form. concrete?-Vory good.
Con-
siderably better than the average When you examined this col- lapsed balcony did you notice any thing particular about the steels and their adherence to the con- croto 7--Yes. I noticed the affinity between the steel and the concrete was not the same as would be in the ordinary board concrete. It was rather less than in the ordinary board concrete.
Vibration in Steel,
Mr. Schofield is sitting as November 5. The reinforced con- Coroner at the inquiry and the crete plans were approved on De- special jury empanelled comprises cember 20, .The
contract Messrs. R. A. Rodgers (foreman), signed in Mr. Tong's room, in Colbourne Little, and Li Koon-witness's office, in February, 1932. A vibration in the chun.
Mr. F. C. Jenkin, K. C. (instruct ed by Mr. F. E. Nash, of Messrs, Woo and Nash, appeared for the contractors, Messrs. Wang Tak and Co., Mr. H, J. Armstrong of Mesara, Deacons, for the architect, Mr. A. J. Lane, and Mr. M. K. Lo. of Measra. Lo and Lo, for the owner of the house.
Li Cheuk, the owner's foreman, was cross-examined by Mr. Lo.
Mr. Lo-Do you understand plans? No.
Wore you given a plan of these buildings-No.
Was Kwok Lol given any plans? ...No.
Mr. Schofield.---I think you
Mr. Lo-I don't care in what other form, but that is the sug-
Would you expect that the people pouring concrete into this It?--I don't think so. balcony would have to tread on
Since this balcony collapsed, have oponed up?--I had a look at all you inspected the other balconies
the work opened up.
DISCUSSION
CONFERENCE TO FADE AWAY
I
Would it be correct to any that ENTERING UPON FINAL the steel was in the same position in all those as in the collapsed. balcony 7-1 consider the thing has been done throughout,
same
Mr. Jenkin Cross Examines, gets the fees and Mr. Tong gets the site during the pouring in of gestion I am making. Mr. Lang
Mr. Jonkin. Mr. Tong was on does not want to know these facts, thing about that? He only went a remuneration. If your Worship the concrete. Do you know any must realize that my duty is a erete was being properly mixed I am not interested. But you on inspection to see that the con
and the materials alright.
very onerous one, 18
I am not
only representing the owner of the house, but also an owner whose relations were killed.
Mr. Jenkin. That does not al-
Witness produced the contract, ¦ vibration in the steel is quicker instructions, perhaps you had betary care is taken?-Yes, they can
In your view
and lasts
somc vibration
ramped.
the con-
The
Mr. Lo-Don't get excited. Mr. Schofield. If the witness does not wish to answer, I don't think the question should be put
Mr. Lo. Very well,
and stated the specifications were than in the concrete attached. He also gave an occu- longer. pation certificate which was sent to the Building Authority. supervision of the work, said suggest 7-It has been
The has been set up, and what do you witness, was carried out regularly The idea being to get rid of the by Mr. Tong and himself, in or-air bubbles. dinary routine.
What causes you to believe that tion work being most important, actual affinity between
Mr. Lane continued-Founda- vibration has been sat up in the I made it my personal business crete and the steel?-If you looki to give the foundation work a lot at these steels, you will see that of time. It is routine work when they are clean, and the grooves in steel work is ready for inspection, the concrete smooth. In ordinary the contractor rings up the office board concrete, you will find dif- or comes to the office and nska ficulty in pulling the steel out of for such inspection to be made. the concrete, and once you do you The practice is that I go myself, will find little bits of concrete ad You know Mr. Tong?-Yes. but 1 cannot be every place at hering to the steel. Did you notice Mr.
Tong ence.
Sometimes examining any steel bars before whom I can trust, will make the collapsed balcony, did you find an assistaut, And when you inspected this the concrete was poured in?-final Inspection, provided I have this theory of yours was in fact seen the steel bars a short while no 7-When I wne down there I Which bars did he examine?previously. The steel work takes saw exactly what had happened, several days to be laid, and I may although I had it in my mind be see it in the course of being laid, fore. I found that the steel were and the assistant may make the torn from the concrete leaving final inspection, otherwise I make clean grooves. the final inspection myself. If I In your view, in good concrete Yeg. am not satised how the steel like that, if this vibration had work is going on, I make the final not been set up, the inspection myself. I don't keep a would have adhered to the steel 7 note of inspections unless I find Yes. some error, because keeping notes
Kwok Wai-kwan?—No.
Yes.
The ground floor,
-Yes,
You mean the top of the garage? Did you see him examining the steel bars before the cement was laid on the balcony ?-No.
The last witness, told the Court that you and your other fokis used to interfere with the steel bars after they were laid?-We
never did.
Have you or your other fokis used poles to ram down the steel
bars 7-No.
Whilst the cement concrete was being poured in the balcony where did you and your fellow foreman stand to look on?-We stood at the back of the bullding.
Mr. Armstrong-Did you see Mr. Kwak, the owner, on the pre-
mises often? I did not often see
him there.
Did you make many reports to him about the work?-Only once on the concrete but many times about the interior decoration.
How many times when the con-
crete was being poured did you see Mr. Kwok? I cannot remem
ber.
Once a week, or twice a week? -Once every two or three daya, sometimes once every five or six days.
Did he take an interest in the building? No.
He took no interest at all.---That
is 30.
\
What did he do then, when he came to the building?-He looked to see how the work was going
on..
Did he take any interest to sec that the concrete was being pro- perly poured in?-He just walk- ed round the building once and
concrete
Yes,
Yes.
-About half an inch.
.
1
PHASES
(SPECIAL TO “TELEGRAPH")
(By Telegraph. Copyright, Telegraphic Messages Ordinance, 1894. Received, Judy 12, 12.50 a.m.)
LONDON, JULY 11.
IT NOW APPEARS THAT THE ECONOMIC · CONFERENCE HAS ENTERED UPON ITS FINAL PHASE. IT IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR A' FORTNIGHT, BUT IT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO REALLY LIVE.
The Anglo-American struggle to obtain the fullest continuation failed, except to the extent that they have forced the gold standard bloc to make one concession, namely, discussion of central bank co-operation. ‹
The outstanding possibilities lie in early concrete. achievements benefitting wheat and silver.
EARLY RECESS INEVITABLE
not affected by
was done with the usual practice The chocking up of the bars
of chocking?--Yca.
Is it not a fact that according to What does that tend to show ? ter the rule of evidence in Court. this practice, these chocks áro
steel. The
Mr. Lo. Certainly not.
easily displaced unless extraordin- Mr. Schofield. In view of your
be displaced easily. ter put the question.
Would the putting down of Mr. Lo (to witness).-How were mixing board on these room rods your fees divided?-According to have a tendency to shift them?--- agreement.
work came No. straight into my office routine. Would there be a certain The question which his Worship amount of traffic on this balcony permitted me to put, was not whe- at a certain point in the laying of ther it was an office routine, but concrete? It would not be on the how much you paid Mr. Tong? balcony, but to a side of it. Even Mr. Lane And I claim you then the men will have to tread have no right to question me on carefully. my office affairs, and I am not go- Do you say that you actually ing to give it out in Court. warned the contractor or his re-j The Monotary Commission com-declared, after the meeting, that presentative as to the necessity promised on the agenda, by agree- he thought events were shaping in for extra care in this cantilevering to discuss more or less non- the best possible way, and believed principio? It is rather difficult controversial subjects, which there was enough work to carry
swear to that. to
You must remember that there was a failure are
currency the Conference on to the end of the
A Question of Safety,
in a building near by, and I made instability, with the expectation month. Valuable results would be it a point to go around my works that when these subjects are ex-accomplished and the resumption Mr. Lo (to witness)-In this and warn them all. certificate which you signed, you
hausted, in about a fortnight, the after a holiday would be made You won't swear that you told Conference will go into Recesa.possible, in infinitely better cir- say that "I hereby certify that the contractor anything about it? U.P. Courtesy, Gold Bar Company. cumstances, he said. the building was completed ac--No, I won't swear to that, but I cording to the Public Works De- swear I told someone.
WORK FOR A FORTNIGHT. 3fr. Cox of America declared building is structurally safe"?-very good at recognising people partment Ordinance, and the Who did you tell?-I am not
the agreement was unanimous, and London, July 11.
therefore two important committees on the various works I am engag It now seems clear that the could never be structurally safe
Do you agree with me that it] ed on.
general opinion among the delegates could go on with their work. You cannot speak Chinese?-to the World Economic Conference
M. Bonnet of France said: unless the steel was of the proper No. height? Yes. The steel bars You cannot tell us who, if any. is that there are a sufficient number Things are progressing satisfac If ramping had taken place
bad to be where I left them. body, you did warn2-It would of subjects to occupy the attention torily of routine work would mean.... while the concrete was being laid,
Do you say or do you not that bo difficult to name any particular of delegates with some hope of an Meanwhile the Drafting Com- such a lot of record keeping. On what would have been the result it is the duty of the contractor to person.
agreement within the next fort-mittee on Commercial Policy met no occasion did I find anything with regard to the bars? The see that your plan was adhered
This concluded the evidence and
night.
this morning and decided to meet wrong with the steel work. The steels would be driven down. It to? The contractor contractor has an absolutely clean is a bad thing to do..
is to build cross-examination, and the hear according to plan.
ing was then adjourned until this sheet as regards the steel work. With regard to the main beam Therefore, do you say that when afternoon.
and the stirrups, are the balcony you signed such a certificate you rods laid over these? The roda assumed that the contractor had! lie over
carefully carried out your plan?| the stirrups, hanging Yes. I don't trust the contractor steels and suspension steels. rups hang, are they strong enough knowledge of the work.
These wires on which the stir. alone, but there is also my own
to support the balcony walls?- They are threaded over the longie tudinal roda.
Previous Collapse. Witness stated that there had been a failure of a balcony in the same district (he was not sure
work
was
whether it was the same street and that this was an incentive for him to make sure of the present. balcony. The steel being done well, and he found no fault. But there had been altera. tion in the rods in the balcony.
Explaining the reasons for two distinct layers on the balcony, the witness said the slab itself was concrete and the two inches en top was composed of cement mortar, which was put in to raise the balcony floor to the level of the room floor. This was a mis- take as, when it rained, the water wont under the casements into the room.
question, he was
זיי
concrete
•
:
SPIES MUST SMOKE
construction
The principle of the cantilever
before it the report of the drafting was comparatively
It is anticipated that a plenary jugain to-morrow. Hence its re- Session of the Conference may then port as to whether it could carry on be convened and that its further its work was not to be available for work will be adjourned, if neces-the Bureau this afternoon. The
final decision as to the future of. sary, until the Autumn.
Most important of several of to- the Conference is not likely to be day's private meetings was that of made to-day, for this reason. the Conference Bureau which had
SHIFTING RESPONSIBILITY; committee on the work of the two
While it is. believed that the sub-commissions of the Monetary effect of the Financial Drafting Commission of the Conference. › It has been suggested that a
Committee's report will be to allow Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first of these is dealing with the work on silver problems, man called Chan has been sent Would you expect the contractor your pipe and smoke it,"
The old warning, "put that in immediato financial measures and co-operation of the Central Banks down from your office to supervise
was other with permanent financial mea- and indebtedness to proceed, it is the work?-Chan is office to have a foreman
to see to it carried out literally by spies dur-sures. coolie, and he might have been that the steel bara were in the ing the World War, says Major Thomas Couslon, formerly of the sent down with a message to the same position?-Yes,
Would you expect that the con- British Military Intelligence Ser contractor. He was in no sense a
tractor's foreman should know vice.
foreman.
an
new to Hongkong at that time?- Yes. Before then we had the can- tilever brackets.
SOME MORE WAR REVELATIONS
AERIAL NAPPING OF SAHARA GREAT EXPEDITION- ARY FLIGHT
an
REPORT ADOPTED.`
After a brief altting of the
of
Regulations have been promul. gated by China, to come into effect with a situation of the sort aug- In January, 1934, solely to dent
gested,
understood that the wording of the resolution will actually pass. on to the sub-committees them- selves the responsibility for de- Relations With Mr. Tong.
that the steel bars should be at "The hardest part of a spy's Bureau under the presidency of Mr. ciding what is and what is not Mr. M. K. Lo-I would like to the top and not at the bottom?-job was to get information out of Ramsay MacDonald, the report was ready to be discussed. Thus, know the relation between you No. But it is his duty to see that the country," he declared in adopted.
where any sub-committee finds It recommended that the sub- there is a marked division and Mr. Tong?-Mr. Tong is em- the steel bars are not interfered address before students of Drexel
itself faced with topics on which ployed by me on a commission with.
Institute. Many methods were commission on immediate measures opinion, there will be a tacit basis. He is not paid a monthly
Could you see any difficulty in used, but probably the most effee for financial reconstruction should agreement to differ and the mat- "This is the first experience of salary,
the way of the contractor which tive was the pipe stunt.
proceed in the first instance to a a collapse," said Mr. Lane. have met with displacements of pays you commission?-No.
"The Would it be correct to say that he would prevent him from seeing
8py would write his discussion of the subject of in- tor will be dropped. that the steels were 41⁄2 inches information on extremely thin debtedness and that the second sub- CHINA'S MEMORANDUM. Producing some steel, here and there".
bills, Mr. Lo high? No. The
ordinary man, paper, which could be rolled into commission dealing with permanent Ho frequently watched the asked. Do you suggest that an who puts in the concrete, is not a ball no larger than a pea. This measures should take up the resolu The Chinese delegation present- have the man who does the steel. I he would insert in the 'heel' of his tion adopted by its sub-committees ed a memorandum to the Sub- pouring in of concrete, but did not employee of yours would watch the pouring in of concrete bills of this kind?-I have never don't know whether the plan would pipe, tamping tobacco down over on central bank co-operation and on Commission on Indirect Protec-
but the it. be of any help to him, on any of the balconies. It took seen them before. then left.
the creation of central banks in tlonism which is considering the was when the whole day from 7 a.m. to b p.m. writing?--I would not like to position.
Do you know Mr. Tong's hand-steels he will have to keep In "If he was stopped by enemy certain countries where they do not question of marks of origin. The Coroner-That
officials, he would merely light his exist and to pursue through its sub-memorandum submits that it is was being poured to pour concrete on the whole
floor, and at least three mixing swear to it..
Would you expect that the stool pipe, and incrimination evidence committees the examination of the Impossible to deny to any atate Mr. Armstrong-You saw the boards had to be used. The time Have you got any counterfoils man, who carried out the placing would go up in smoke."
question of silver and other sub-the right to enable its consumers steel bars on the verandah before at which the balconies were con- of the fees that Mr. Kwok paid of the steel, should hand it over, Hollow buttons, false finger jects on the agenda which may by to distinguish between domestic the concrete was poured in?creted all depended on the post- you for drawing up the plans and as it were, to the man who was nails and oven glass eyes, he said, general agreement be considered and foreign goods.
tion of egress to the work. But supervision?-I have got dupli- going to put the concrete in? were utilized to secrete impor- suitable for discussion.
No. He puts the steel in first. tant documents.-Reuter. How far above the boards were he had seen a balcony started cates in office.
Producing the bills again, Mr. Then the contractor or the con-
THE SHIPPING SUBSIDIES. theso bars? They were level with first, and had also seer concrete
being poured on three,places at Lo asked-I would like you to tractor's foreman goes with the
The sub-commission on subsidies the inner flooring.
At what height above the floor?the same time. The balcony in have a look at these and say whe-architect, and gets instructions to
for merchant shipping, in con- sure, was the ther this is the first time you pour in the concrete. He would
formity with the decision of the What were they supported by7 last to be concreted. Besides have seen them?-That is not my then give Instructions to the con-
As far as the regulations them." himself and Mr. Tong there was: receipt,
crete men to pour in the concrete.
Bureau, decided to-day to appoint a rafting committee.to draw up a re-selves and their application aro -Small coment blocks.
Contractor not Warned. What happened to these blocks no one else from his office super-
part embodying the different points concerned, all China' proposes to- when the concrete was being vising the work. Mr. Tong was matter, because I want to suggest You knew that tho atcel
Paris, of view put forward its discussions. do is to enable her consumers to poured in? They were left there. not an authorised architect. Only to you with regard to work of that bars 44 inches high A track which planes can follow The drafting committee is composed distinguish in some simple fashion
They are still there, according Mr. L. B. Lee and himself were kind, you did not pay much atten- of vital importance, did you then
exista across }now
part of the the representatives of France, between national and foreign tion? You can stop straight to you.
the contractors?—I warn
Italy, Japan, Norway, the United goods. did Sahara, away, and don't say any more. Witnons-Possibly they have
not write him any letter to that I am going to ask you the same effect. There is no more impor-returned to Paris from the almost
Captain Vauthier who has just Kingdom and the United States.
British Wirclesa. beon mixed up in the concrete.
question, and say that that is ao? tanco attached to reinforced stoel unknown Tonere, to the south east Coroner-Any questions, Mr.
CLEARER OUTLOOK. supervise all my work, and I on balconies than to the other por of the Hoggar, has for the first of the foundations. The time succeeded in-linking up In- don't care who brings it to the tions
London; July 11. office.
The outlook has been greatly only difference is in the cantilever Azous, south-east of Tamanrasset, Mr. Kwok paid five per cent for slab, which shows faulty work with Nguimi, near Lake Chad. clarified as a result of the mooting While efforts were being made Mr. Armstrong-In connexion the drawing up of the plans and sooner.
The methods of the expedition-of the Financial Drafting Com-to formulate a future agenda for with this building, can you re supervision?-I cannot remember
Of course you and I will differ which included as geologist and mittee this morning, on which gold the Conference, Soviet Russia's member whether the steels were exactly. It was based on a per- on the meaning of importanco, historian a woman, Madame de and non-gold nations were equally delegation submitted a memoran- of the right height? I know the contage, about five per cont. In this case two people were killed, Bomberghenare worthy of note by represented. It is understood that dum urging that, Independent of stools were of the right height. About how much would that be? and If you cannot regard that as prospective.trans-Sahara fiiors. the Committee decided to report to any decisions which may be taken
They wore properly supported
ro- Important, I cannot help it.
Each morning, lorries set out at this afternoon's session of the with respect to the scope of the lovnnt? on the chocks Absolutely.
Mr. Lano-It was quite im dawn, maarking the most practicable Bureau that work could proceed im- Conference, the following ques Witness. It is not relevant. I portant that the steel bars should route as they wont, and seeking a mediately on silver, the co-operation tions should be included in dire am not going to discuss my office be in the proper position as in landing ground. A wireless mos- of the Contral Banks and In-cussions without fall: affairs with Mr. Lo,
other portione. :
Bage was then sent to a waiting debtedness. Mr. Lo.-I suggest that it was Mr. Lo-Except this, that the pland, giving the exact position of
1. A pact of economic non- If these recommendations are aggression), gave him these cantilever system is comparative- the landing ground. The plane accepted by the Bureau, the Con bo brought to his notice. Tho It is suggested that the steel bills for signing, and if it is ad- ly now to Hongkong, is it not?-It then set out following the marked forence will proceed on this minor 2. The question of extending the pinna were frat submitted to the bars on the balconies were tied to mitted, I suggested that he did not was now to Hongkong.... route, and rejoined the lorrica at programme and then adjourn to import possibilities of var P.W.D. on August 25, 1981, and the wooden shuttering 7-It has pay the same amount of attention Did you warn the contractor to the landing ground.
turned on October 18, for al-nover been done on any building. to it.
koop the height?I don't know This proceeding was repeated assemble either on a specified Mr. Jonkin.The cross-examina- whether I told him personally, each day, until the whole distance currencies are sufficiently
date or when the Bureau considers terations to the garage to meet It Is allly to suggest it. certain requirements of the Fire In your concrete plans there ton le quite legitimate if Mr. Lo but I expect I did. I went round some 700 miles was marked out currencies Brigade, They were re-submitted are shown what are known as ox- is going to carry it to a con- the stool menf, and fold then. Alliumiciently clearly to be visible from
lastenda; on October 28 and approved on pansion sbeeld for the rods, can clusion and put it to Mr. Lane these Contractors, know the Im the air. Reuter
Jenkin?
Mr. Jenkin-I don't think so, air. The ground has been tra- volled by other witnesses. I won't ask this witness anything.
Architect's Evidence.
authorised architects.
Different Kinds of Chocks, Cross-examined by Mr. Arm- strong, witness stated that the chocka in on the collapsed balcony wore of wood and or coment concrete of "B" class.
Цве
Are these chocks loft in or re-
Mr. Lo.-I have to pursue this
Mr.
Schofield?-Is that
Mr. Alfred J. Lane, authorlued - architect, China Building, then took the witness stand. Ho said the plans for 13-15 Yuk Sau Street, wore prepared by Mr. Tong, who was in charge of the plans. Wit moved when the concreta is pour just walked through the led-The concrete chocks are offico now and again` and saw the usually loft, but the wooden plans. Anything special would chocks are always taken out. Mr. Tong who.
11ess
wero
The memorandum adds, how- over, that China does not favour symbols in this connexion. ECONOMIC PEACE.
NA
and conditions ont
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Private notes are available after approval.