ENG-1959 — Page 291

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND PUBLIC WORKS

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The Consulting Engineers appointed to report on large-scale development schemes submitted eight reports during the year. These were on a road from Tsuen Wan to Tai Po over Lead Mine Pass; a road along the Kowloon Foothills linking Kwun Tong to the Tai Po Road; and on reclamations at Tai Po, Sha Tin, Castle Peak, Junk Bay, Tsuen Wan, and Gin Drinker's Bay. These schemes could provide over 2,600 acres of useful land which is sufficient to accommodate a population of one million persons and associated industry. The Government decided to go ahead with the construction of the Kowloon Foothills Road and reclamation at Gin Drinker's Bay and Tsuen Wan, but to defer the other schemes until substantial progress had been made with the first

ones.

The Materials Testing Laboratory operating under the direction of the Port Works Office of the Public Works Department carried out some 10,000 tests on building materials on behalf of Govern- ment and private architects and contractors.

Buildings. The volume of building by the Public Works Depart- ment exceeded all former levels and it was again necessary to commission private architects to carry out some projects.

Eight schools were completed, six being standard 24-classroom primary schools, each accommodating 1,080 children per session. The buildings are five storeys high and because of the restricted sites, which are 24,000 square feet or less in area, they incor- porate roof playgrounds as well as play-space at ground level. Experience has shown that these large schools can be administered satisfactorily; and the Director of Education has decided that 30- classroom schools of six storeys for 1,350 children are feasible. Drawings for such schools, to be accommodated on sites of about 22,000 square feet, have been made and site formation for the first of these, at Lo Fu Ngam, is in hand. There are no lifts in these schools, but climbing to the upper floors is reduced by the roof level play areas which enable the upper floor children to enjoy their play periods without descending to ground level. An extension to King's College has been finished, while the extension to Ellis Kadoorie School is nearing completion. Construction has started on additional workshops and laboratories for the Hong Kong Technical College, and working drawings for the new