ENG-1959 — Page 83

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

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offset the shortage of flat land, the Government is levelling hilly ground and using the spoil to reclaim land from the sea. The largest of these schemes is at Kwun Tong situated in Kowloon Bay where 58 acres of land have already been provided in the first stage of the scheme, largely by reclamation from the sea. The second and third stages on which work is proceeding will even- tually provide a further 177 acres. Twenty two factories have already been built on the first stage and are now operating. It is estimated that when the whole scheme is completed the industrial town thus created will sustain nearly a quarter of a million people.

A second large-scale scheme to provide land for light industry has recently been approved. This development will involve the filling of Gin Drinker's Bay at Kwai Chung which is adjacent to the industrial area of Tsuen Wan in the New Territories. This scheme, which will take approximately five years to complete, will ultimately provide 217 acres of industrial land. A number of smaller schemes are being planned to provide land for general industrial use or for specific industries such as boat-building and repairing and ship-breaking.

Water conservancy schemes, such as the recently completed project at Tai Lam Chung and the new scheme at Shek Pik on Lantau, are helping to alleviate the chronic shortage of water.

HEAVY INDUSTRIES

Shipbuilding and Repairing. This section of industry is mainly centred on two large establishments which together have an annual new building capacity of 80,000 gross tons and can accommodate vessels up to 500 feet in length on their building berths. Major repair work, including the complete rewinding of large motors, and all types of engineering, electrical, sanitary, refrigerating and underwater work can be carried out. General civil engineering and construction work is also undertaken. During 1959 the total num- ber of ships which have been slipped or docked in the two major shipbuilding yards was 458 with a gross tonnage of 1,730,631.

There are six granite dry docks in the Colony, the largest being 787 feet overall and 93 feet 4 inches wide. Two stationary hammer- head cranes each with a lifting capacity of 150 tons, and a crane