ENG-1980 — Page 213

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PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

a maximum security prison and staff quarters at Shek Pik; the first standard 24-classroom secondary school on Lantau Island; the redevelopment of Osborn Barracks and Perowne Barracks as part of the reprovisioning of facilities given up by the military at Lei Yue Mun Fort and Sham Shui Po; quarters for military officers at Sek Kong Village; a Medical Department laundry at Pik Uk; an indoor stadium at Hung Hom; and fire stations at Sheung Wan and Wong Tai Sin.

At the end of the year, projects at the planning stage included a new Supreme Court and government offices in Queensway; cultural complexes at Tsim Sha Tsui, Sha Tin and Tuen Mun; a new district court in Wan Chai; housing redevelopment at Shek Kip Mei; a promenade at Tsim Sha Tsui; three plant nurseries in the New Territories; two swimming pool complexes at Tsuen Wan; government offices at Sai Kung; a crematorium and colum- barium at Sha Tin; a training school for the police at Aberdeen; and numerous other education, medical, recreational and amenity projects.

In view of the current problems associated with fossil fuels, two pilot schemes were initiated to evaluate the economics of solar energy for government projects. The first solar energy water heating system was installed in a public bath house at Stanley Village. The design is in accordance with a feasibility report prepared by a professor of the University of Hong Kong, and provides for the daily public usage of 33 showers. A similar installation for five showers was provided at a PWD depot in Sek Kong. Detailed monitoring of the performance of both projects will provide useful design data for further installations.

The construction and leasing of new premises for public use has continued to result in an expansion of maintenance activities. The 1980-1 projected expenditure on maintenance works represents an increase of 33 per cent over that spent in 1979–80. In addition to the normal maintenance activities, there was an increase in works in the border area to provide facilities for the security forces engaged in anti-illegal immigration operations.

Land Development

In Kowloon, reclamation by public dumping was completed for the second stage of reclamation at Sham Shui Po, where about three hectares was formed for use as open space. Reclamation by public dumping was also completed at To Kwa Wan, where about 4.8 hectares was formed for a sewage treatment plant, schools and use as open space.

On Hong Kong Island, reclamation by public dumping continued at Quarry Bay, where about two hectares was formed for eventual industrial use. Two other reclamations were commenced, providing one hectare at Sai Wan Ho for future roads and industrial use and four hectares at Siu Chai Wan for future industrial use.

In the New Territories, reclamation was completed for the second stage of Tai Po Industrial Estate, which provides 30 hectares of land for industrial use.

The engineering feasibility study for urban development in the northern part of Lantau Island continued. The study area extended from the northeastern tip at Kap Shui Mun to the district of Tung Chung, half-way along the north coast. It also considered the effect on the new urban development of a possible replacement airport at Chek Lap Kok Island, to the north of Tung Chung.

Drainage and Anti-pollution Projects

Flood protection to urban and rural areas is afforded by stormwater drainage culverts and nullahs. Sewage from developed areas is, in general, collected by separate sewage systems and subjected to various modes of treatment depending on the quality of effluent