ENG-1957 — Page 318

COMMUNICATIONS

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satellite town for 250,000 people is being laid out, with roads and drainage being constructed on excavated foot-hills and reclaimed land. Several miles of road will eventually have been constructed under the scheme.

The opening of trenches in roads is a constant cause of delay, inconvenience and irritation to road users and, being almost directly related to the development of building and industry, only serves to emphasize Hong Kong's remark- able post-war expansion. Over 8,000 road openings were made during the year, and the control of these trenches and their reinstatement required unrelenting attention from the special organization which has been built up for this purpose. A strict control must be exercised, and high and expensive standards laid down, to ensure satisfactory rein- statement. The ready and willing co-operation of the utility companies with this policy has been greatly appreciated.

All this widespread work has necessitated an increase in the staff of the Roads Office of the Public Works Depart- ment, which now approaches 1,500 men, including labourers and artisans employed in the quarries and on minor road maintenance. Larger work is undertaken by contract, and about thirty contracts were in progress during the year. Shortage of professional and technical staff prevented more work of high priority being undertaken.

The new quarry at Mount Butler was completed and brought into full operation during 1957, although the face has yet to be fully developed. Crushers, compressors and mixers for producing coated roadstone were transferred from Tsat Tze Mui Quarry and some new items of plant installed. All the installation and structural work for the plant, includ- ing elevators and conveyor belts, was carried out by the quarry staff. Electrical work was carried out by the Electrical and Mechanical Office. Following the heavy rains in May it was necessary to construct barriers in the valley below the quarry to prevent spoil being washed down and inter- fering with the drainage of the Tai Hang Village area below.