APPENDIX :G.G.
REPORT
OF THE
DIRECTOR OF PUBlic WorkS
FOR THE
YEAR 1946-47
APPENDIX G.G.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
FOR THE YEAR 1946-47.
I. This Report covers the financial "year" of eleven months from 1st May, 1946, the date of resumption of Civil Govern- ment, to 31st March, 1947.
2. The last Report issued was for the year 1939 as owing to the outbreak of war on 8th December 1941 no report was published for the fifteen months period from 1st January, 1940 to 31st March, 1941.
3.
The department consists of a Headquarters and nine offices as follows-Architectural, Buildings Ordinance, Crown Lands and Surveys, Drainage, Roads, Port Works, Transport, Valuation and Resumption and Waterworks.
4. The pre-war division of duties of the two Assistant Directors was changed from zonal, i.e., Hong Kong and Kowloon, to functional, i.e. engineering and buildings.
5.
The total establishment provided in the Estimates com- prised 129 posts normally filled by Europeans and 511 posts filled by Asiatics. Upon the resumption of Civil Government, 29 European Officers and 297 Asiatic Officers on establishment were on duty. In addition 13 temporary European Officers and 106 temporary Asiatic Officers were employed. 'The daily paid staff numbered 1,837. By the end of the year, the staff on duty comprised 96 European Officers and 322 Asiatic Officers on establishment, and a temporary staff of 4 European Officers and 117 Asiatic Officers. The daily paid staff numbered 2,755. Of the European establishment, 3 officers had not returned from recuperative leave and there were 30 vacancies.
6. During the period of Military Administration the majority of the European staff were absent on recuperative leave following internment during Japanese Occupation.
7. In January the Secretary of State approved the creation of 13 additional posts but none had been filled by the end of the year.
Included in the additional posts were four architects, three structural engineers and two quantity sur- veyors, all of whom were urgently required to assist in the large programme of rehabilitation and new construction of buildings.
8. Three Town Planning Architects were also included as no officers of this category were on the existing establishment and post war problems of Planning necessitated the creation of a Town Planning Office. The remaining post provided for a mechanical engineer to take charge of all departmental plant and equipment, mechanical workshops and the newly- formed Transport Oflice, under the general direction of the Chief Electrical Engineer.
9.
An attempt was made to recruit locally architects, struc- tural engineers and inspectors of works. Few applicants had the necessary qualifications and experience to fill such appointments, and only one architect was appointed.
10. One Chinese Temporary Assistant Engineer was absent for the whole year attending Federated British Industries apprenticeship course in the United Kingdom.
11. The efficiency of the Department was seriously handi- capped by the almost complete loss of pre-war records and equipment, by the absence of such a large proportion of the European staff on recuperative leave, and the slow rate of recruitment of new staff. Nevertheless the progress of reha- bilitation may be considered as satisfactory, having regard to such circumstances and after making allowances for the difficult supply situation.
12. The expenditure incurred by the Department is shown in tables at the end of this Report.
Hong Kong, 20th April, 1948.
V. KENNIFF,
Director of Public Works.
13. The principal work of the Architectural Office was the rehabilitation of buildings. Comparatively few Government buildings escaped damage as a result of the war, or of looting. Other buildings which were requisitioned or leased in order to provide office and living accommodation also required rehabilitation to a varying extent.
14. A board was appointed on 16th July to survey damaged Government buildings and make recommendations for their repair, or demolition, and for the future development of vacant sites. This board reported early in August.
15. So many demands were received for urgent rehabilitation repairs that in July returns were obtained from Government departments of their most urgent requirements, and a priority list was prepared of those works which the available staff could undertake. This list comprised 163 buildings but 274 buildings were actually rehabilitated during the year.
16. By the end of July a very limited but sufficient staff became available to enable the planning of new construction to commence. The board had recommended that new con- struction in the first instance should be confined to the provision of Government quarters.
17. The work of the office throughout the year was restricted by shortage of staff, both architects and inspectors of works, and by shortage of supplies. At the beginning of the year skilled labour was also scarce, but this and the supply of materials steadily improved during the year.
Public Works Recurrent.
18. Since comparatively few Government, requisitioned, or leased buildings were undamaged, or in a reasonable state of preservation, the expenditure on normal recurrent mainten- ance was small, and no attempt was therefore necessary to reinstitute a recurrent maintenance programme.
19. Maintenance of Government Buildings:-Maintenance work, chiefly of a minor nature, was carried out in the follow- ing buildings:-
Governement House;
Park Road Police Quarters;
No. 7 Aberdeen, Mong Kok, and Tai Po Police Stations; Queen Mary and Kowloon Hospitals;
New Territories Dispensaries;
Ellis Kadoorie and Wanchai Schools;
20.
Fire Brigade Building;
Central and Kowloon Fire Stations;
Kennedy Town and Wanchai Markets:
Hong Kong and Kowloon Disinfecting Stations; Leighton Hill Road Hawkers' Office;
Central Garage;
North Point Refugee Camp:
The Peak, Wilmer Street, Wellington Street;
and Ma Tau Wei Road Latrines;
Second Street Bath-house;
Kai Lung Wan Crematorium.
Maintenance of non-Government Buildings:-Expendi- ture was kept to a minimum, and only work of a minor natura was carried out in the following buildings:-
21.
357, 359 Prince Edward Road;
90, 92 Waterloo Road;
11 Hillcrest;
European Quarters at Mong Kok Fire Station;
Wanchai Naval Hospital;
Rosary Hill Relief Centre;
Un Long Health Centre; Yaumati Dispensary;
Un Long Fire Station;
Hong Kong Club;
St. Stephen's College, Stanley.
Alterations and Additions to Government Buildings: Owing to pressure of work on rehabilitation only essential minor alterations could be undertaken. The principal build- ings in which alterations and additions were carried out included --
Government House;
Supreme Court;
Development Secretariat;
Import and Export Office;
Harbour Office;
Kowloon Hospital Pathological Laboratory;
Central and Upper Levels Police Stations;
Western Market Garage;
North Point Convalescent Camp;
Harcourt Health Centre;
Government Civil Hospital Latrine.
[ 5 ]
22. Alterations and Additions to non-Government Buildings:- Only essential work was carried out in view of the shortage of tenure. The principal buildings affected were:-
Treasury Office, Prince's Building;
Assessment Department, Windsor House; Police Headquarters, Oriental Building: 46 MacDonnell Road; Wanchai Health Centre;
Kam Tin Police Station.
23. Maintenance of Lighthouses:No work was carried out owing to shortage of staff.
24.
Maintenance of Colonial Cemetery Buildings:-Very little work was carried out owing to shortage of staff.
Public Works Extraordinary
Rehabilitation.
25. During 1946 all rehabilitation was carried out on an austerity basis, with a view to obtaining the maximum possible accommodation from the limited materials available, and reducing future expense in the inevitable renewal of unessen- tial work. Another reason for austerity work
was the shortage of skilled labour and transport. Under such condi- tions, 225 Government buildings and 49 Non-Government buildings were rehabilitated, of which 84 were for use as Government Quarters. 222 contracts were let and 3,015 works orders were issued.
26.
Restoration of Damaged Government Buildings:- -Work was carried out on many buildings, including the following:-
Government House; Fanling Lodge;
Quarters: Homestead Flats and Houses; 157, 251, 252, 275, 276, 584, 556 and 557 The Peak; Arbuthnot Road, Caine Road; West End Park; 1 to 14 Ventris Road; 97 to 131 Wongneichong Road; Blocks A & B, Railway; Elliot Filters; Stanley Gaol; Garden Road, Waterworks Belchers' Street Coolies Quarters.
Offices: Colonial Secretariat; Supreme Court; Central Magistracy; Royal Observatory; General Post Office; Crown Lands and Surveys; Land Bailiffs; Harbour; Statue Square Urban Council; Bacteriological Insti- tute; I. & E. shed on praya; Ping Shan and Tai Po Lands; Wanchai and Shamshuipo Sanitary; Leighton Hill Road Hawkers; Botanical and Forestry Depart- ments Headquarters at Lai Chi Kok.
27.
F6
Hospitals:Queen Mary, Government Civil, Tsan Yuk, Kowloon and Lai Chi Kok; Harcourt Health Centre; Sha Tau Kok Dispensary; Lunatic Asylum.
Schools:--Central British; The Peak; Northcote Training College; Trade School; Wanchai; Sookunpoo; Quarry Bay: Yaumati; Bridge Street and Un Long. Prisons:-Victoria Gaol; Stanley; Stanley Reformatory.
Police Stations:-Central; Nos. 2, 7 and 8; Bay View: Shankiwan; Wanchai Gap; Wongneichong Gap; Aberdeen; Pokfulam; Stanley: Tsim Sha Tsui: Yaumati Shamshuipo; Tai Po; Sheung Shui.
Fire Stations:-Wanchai; Hennessy Road; Belchers
Street; Shamshuipo.
Refugee Camps:-Morrison Hill, North Point; Aberdeen;
King's Park.
Markets: Wanchai; Sai Wan Ho; Tsim Sha Tsui; Yaumati; Shamshuipo; Kun Chung; Tong Mei. Slaughter Houses:-Shaukiwan; Kennedy Town; Ma
Tau Kok.
Cattle Depots:-Kennedy Town; Ma Tau Kok. Bath-houses:-O'Brien Road; Cross Lane; Pak Hoi St. Latrines: Botanical Gardens: Wellington Street; Bel-
chers; Warren Street; Wanchai Market.
Disinfecting Stations:-Hong Kong; Kowloon. Crematoria:-Kennedy Town; Kai Lung Wan.
Wireless Stations:--Peak; Cape D'Aguilar; Hung Hom.
Storage Huts: Aberdeen; Wong Chuk Hang; Maryknoll, Miscellaneous:---Old City Hall; Kennedy Road revolver range; Caroline Hill Garage; Hung Hom Electrical Workshop: Waterloo Road Post Office; Waglan Lighthouse; Stone Nullah Lane District Watchmen's House; Robinson Road and Peak Road cable huts.
The following Government buildings were rehabilitated to a pre-war standard:---
Government House;
Nos. 157, 275 and 276 The Peak;
The Peak School;
Hung Hom Electrical Workshop and Quarters;
Botanical and Forestry Departments' Headquarters at Lai Chi Kok; A. S. P.'s Quarters at Tai Po.
-28.
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Restoration of non-Government Buildings: The build- ings restored included the following:-
29.
Quarters: Hillcrest; 6b, 5e Broom Rond; 28, Kennedy Road; 46 MacDonnell Road; Bethanie; 25, 27 Kim- berley Road; 268, 290, 853, 355, 357, 359B Prince Edward Road; 90, 92 Waterloo Road; 126, 128 Argyle Street; Health Inspector's, Un Long.
Offices: Police Headquarters, Oriental Building; Press Relations, Gloucester Building; S. T. & I., Mercantile Bank Building; Treasury, Yokohama Specie Bank; St. George's Building; Shaukiwan Harbour Office. Schools: 28, Kennedy Road, Kindergarten; Hollywood Road, Anglo-Chinese; St. John's Hall; French Convent, Causeway Bay.
Fire Stations:-Un Long; Tai Po.
Hospitals: Wanchai Naval; Tung Wah Eastern; Neth-
ersole; Kwong Wah.
Dispensaries:-Central; Wanchai; Tai Po; Shaukiwan; Miscellaneous:-Chinese Y.M.C.A., Waterloo Road; Ro- sary Hill Relief Centre; Wanchai Health Centre; Y.W.C.A. Centre, Rutton Building; Soldiers and Sailors Home, Wanchai.
Restoration of Lighthouses:--It was possible to carry out some essential works at Waglan and Tong Kee Lighthouses only.
30. Restoration of Colonial Cemetery Buildings:-No work was carried out owing to shortage of staff.
31. Replacement of Destroyed Government Buildings: Early in August 1946 work commenced on the preparation of schemes for the development of sites for Government quarters, The first site chosen was that of the destroyed quarters at Leighton Hill. A scheme for three new buildings was pre- pared providing a total of 39 five-room flats. The disposition of the buildings was arranged to eliminate over-looking and to take advantage of the prevailing summer breeze. The buildings have been planned to ensure that all bedrooms and living rooms have the maximum natural ventilation. Direct motor approach under cover is obtained for each block, and garage accommodation is provided for each flat in three separate groups. Half of the ground floor on each block remains open and provides covered play space for children. The working drawings were well in hand at the end of the year. Work had commenced on the clearing of the ruins of former Government Quarters on the site and the construction of the new approach road.
[ 8 1
Preliminary schemes for new police quarters were also in course of preparation at the close of the year.
32.
Temporary Offices for the Public Works Department: A scheme for the erection of three blocks of temporary offices two of which would be erected on the site of former Public Works Offices destroyed by onemy action were prepared.
33.
Demolition of Dangerous Structures:-Demolitions car- ried out included:-
Mountain Lodge;
Japanese buildings at Kowloon Hospital; Covered way and C Block, Victoria Gaol; Beaconsfield Arcade garages;
Retaining wall at Central Police Station; Japanese latrine near Hung Hom Market.
34. Clearance of Building Debris:-Debris resulting from war damage and collapses was cleared from the following sites:-
Leighton Hill;
Mount Parish;
Peak Pavilion;
160, The Peak;
Cox's Road;
Trade School;
P. W. D. Offices;
Queen Mary Hospital.
35. Provision of Additional Court:-A scheme was prepared for the provision of an additional court at the Supreme Court, but owing to materials not being available no work was. carried out.
36. Repairs to Temporary Tuberculosis Sanatorium:-A row of badly-looted domestic houses, Felix Villas, at the western end of Mount Davis Road were rehabilitated and altered to enable the buildings to be used as a temporary T. B. sanatorium.
New Works.
37. No new works were undertaken.
│ སཻ །
BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE.
38. This office is primarily concerned with the administration of the Buildings Ordinance which controls the construction of buildings by the public. Little more than a skeloton staff was available during the year to deal with an increasing volume of work.
39. Very little reconstruction work was commenced during the Military Administration, owing to shortage of materials, skilled labour and transport.
40. The early part of the year was taken up principally with inspections of dangerous buildings, and the serving of notices for either demolition or erection of shoring.
Owing possibly to the high cost of labour and materials property owners showed little inclination to clear sites of building debris. However, towards the end of 1946, as more building materials became available, plans for rehabilitation works, alterations, additions, and new buildings were sub- mitted by the public in steadily increasing numbers.
42. From 1st May 1946 to 31st March 1947, 2,006 plans were deposited of which 1,984 were approved. Of the approved plans 1,386 concerned work in Hong Kong, and the remain- ing 598 plans concerned work in Kowloon.
43.
The 1,386 approved plans for works in Hong Kong dealt with 1,944 buildings as follows:-
Demolition of damaged buildings
19 buildings
Rehabilitation of damaged buildings...
940 buildings
Alterations and additions to existing
buildings
786 buildings
New European type houses.
7 buildings
New Chinese type tenements.
New semi-European type buildings..
New non-domestic buildings
64 buildings
4 buildings
124 buildings
Total..
.1944 buildings
44. The 598 approved plans for works in Kowloon dealt with 1,090 buildings as follows:-
[ 10 ]
Demolition of damaged buildings....... 34 buildings Rehabilitation of damaged buildings..... 370 buildings
Alterations and additions to existing
buildings
New European type houses
New Chinese type tenements.
New non-domestic buildings
Total...
J
525 buildings
13 buildings
54 buildings
94 buildings
1090 buildings
45. Occupation permits were issued for 8 European type, 32 Chinese type houses, and 27 non-domestic buildings. Seven major fires occurred, of which one at 78, Un Chau Street was the most serious, resulting in eleven deaths. This fire was caused by the igniting of a can of petrol on the third floor and although the building was of reinforced concrete with easy means of egress, the cleven occupants were trapped in the corner of a room.
46. A total of 571 notices affecting 773 houses were served on owners of dangerous buildings.
47. There were 31 collapses of buildings affecting 38 build- ings, and caused the death of 17 persons, and injuries to many others.
48. Notices were served on 628 owners of illegal structures, many of which had been erected by squatters on the sites of demolished buildings. In co-operation with the Urban Counc cil, and the Police, many of these insanitary shacks were removed, but the erection of these illegal structures continues.
49. Some 1,056 notices affecting 1,360 houses were served in regard to choked drains.
380 inspections and reports were made upon the struc- tural stability of premises requiring licences from other Departments.
50. 153 tests and inspections of drainage systems were carried out.
51. 41 persons were summoned for various offences under the Buildings Ordinance, and fines amounting to $4,010 were imposed. In almost every case the necessary Magistrate's order was obtained.
11 1
Public Works Recurrent,
52. Maintenance of Chinese Cometerics-These cemeteries through neglect during the war were in a deplorable condi- tion, but owing to other more pressing work little maintenance was carried out.
Public Works Extraordinary
Rehabilitation.
53. Repairs to Chinese Cemeteries-Little work could be undertaken owing to other more pressing demands.
New Works.
54. Completion of Wo Hop Shek Cemetery-The work could not be recommenced owing to shortage of staff, and had to be deferred.
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CROWN Lands and SURVEYS OFFICE.
55. The work of this office was handicapped perhaps more than that of any other office by the loss of most of pro-war records such as survey sheets and records relating to land let on permit or alienated on long lease,
Many of the pre-war staff did not return to duly and further loss of staff was sustained by the tragic death of Mr. S. C. Collins, Land Surveyor, which occurred on 1st January, 1947, at the hands of bandits. Mr. Collins had joined the Department on transfer from Sierra Leone in April 1946.
Crown Lands.
56. The Secretary of State for the Colonies had directed on 19th May 1944 that until records were re-established, no transfer or change of title of Land should be permitted, and that during the period of the Military Administration no leases. on the usual term of years should be issued, but that land should be made available by short-term permit. This prohi- bition was promulgated by Article 8 of Proclamation No. 6 dated 13th September 1945, and was terminated by Order No. 2 made under that Proclamation on 20th December 1945, except in the case where land had been affected by dealings during the Japanese Occupation. Upon the resumption of civil Government in May 1946 applications for the alienation of Crown Land by long-term lease were accepted, and by the end of the year three lots had been sold by public auction.
57. In order to expedite the carrying out of housing schemes the Secretary of State granted permission for a period of one year from 14th August 1946 for the alienation of Crown Land by private treaty. It was considered that by eliminating speculative competition genuine private interests would be more readily prepared to undertake the expense of the preli- rinary investigations necessary in the preparation of such housing schemes, No sales by private treaty under this authority had been effected by the end of the year.
58. Government announced on 16th June 1946 its policy in relation to those Crown Leases which were granted during the last century for terms of seventy-five years with no provision as to renewal. Under this announcement new Crown Leases were to be granted, subject to certain conditions, for a term of seventy-five years plus the unexpired portion of the original term. Especially favourable terms were offered to those lessees who applied within one year of the date of the announcement, with a view to securing the early rehabilitation of war-damaged premises or the early full development of their holdings. The terms for the grant of the new leases
18 1
provided for the assessment of Crown rent and premium in accordance with the values ruling immediately before the out- break of the Pacific War. Sixty applications had been received by 31st March 1947, and one new Crown Lease had been granted.
59. The revenue derived from the sale, etc., of Crown Land was as follows:—
(i)
Sales by Auction
:
Kowloon
14,220.00
New Kowloon
: 159,000.00
New Territories : 2,070.00
(ii) Sales without auction
New Territories
11.00
(iii) Extensions
:
6,863,00
(iv) Conversions and exchanges:
New Territories :
65.80
(v) New 75 year lease
Hong Kong
8,638.00
Total.....
.$190,867.80
60.
For the temporary occupation of Crown Land in Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Kowloon 1,033 new permits were issued, a total of 1,668 permits were in force during the year, and the sum of $312,406.87 was collected in fees.
61. The total revenue, including $7,809.20 collected by District Officer, New Territories, amounted to:-
Premia on sales, etc.
Boundary Stone and Survey fees. Permit fees
Sale of plans
Miscellaneous
Total.
$190,867.80 240.00
317,894.27
156.00
175.00
$509,333.07
62.
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SURVEYS
Trigonometrical Surveys.
The systematic computation and recording of the plane rectangular co-ordinates of the 69 Main Triangulation Sta- tions (as adjusted by the War Ofee Geographical Section 1928-29-30 and computed then to transverse Mercator co- ordinates) was completed during the year and an up-to-date Main triangulation Book compiled for reference. Reconstruc- tion of the Minor Triangulation is proceeding, many of the records having been lost during the Japanese occupation of the Colony.
63. The following 27 Main Triangulation Stations were visited and inspected:-Nos. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 31, 32, 33, 34, 38, 39, 40, 100, 110, 111, 114, 117, JL. & M. It was found that twelve required rebuilding or repairing. The beacons at Nos. 1 and 33 were rebuilt and that at No. 34 was repaired.
64. The following 8 Main Triangulation Stations were observed as existing but not visited:-Nos. 11, 12, 13, 16, 26, 97, 113, and 116.
65. The following 44 Minor Triangulation Stations were visited and inspected-Mountain Lodge, Middle Island, Mai Po Village, Adâ Rise, Gin Drinker's Bay, Magazine Gap, High D'Aguilar, Danger Flag Hill, Mission Hill, Sacred Hill, Monu- ment 87, Quarry Bay, Quarry Hill, Causeway Bay, Pokfulam Reservoir, Kai Lung Wan Cemetery, High West, Whitty Street, Black Boulder, Nos. 35, 36, 53, 54, 64, 73, 74, 76, 87, 90, 92, 128, 129, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 141, R8, R25, BP19 and KP. It was found that fourteen required building. rebuilding or repairing. Beacons at Mai Po Village, Mission Hill and Sacred Hill were built, and at Nos. 35, 36 and 76 were rebuilt.
66. The following 26 Minor Triangulation Stations were valued by triangulation:-Mountain Lodge, Middle Island, Mai Po Village, Ada Rise, Magazine Gap, High D'Aguilar, Danger Flag Hill, Mission Hill, Sacred Hill, Monument 87, Whitty Street, Nos. 35, 36, 87, 90, 92, 128, 129, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139 and 141.
67.
General Surveys.
The more important general survey work included the following:
Hong Kong Island:-
(a) 28 Rural Building Lots and Garden Lots (total area
[ 15 ]
57 acres) in the Peak District were surveyed and plans prepared in connection with the grant of new leuses.
(b). An area of 11 neres at Répuise Bay was set out and
flagged.
(c) Two recreation areas of 3 acres and 4.16 acres were
set out.
(d) Damaged portions of houses in the Western District, which appeared useable, (area 72,541 sq. ft.) were inspected and measured for the Medical Department,
(e) 14.5 acres, scale 1/1200, at Tai Hang, and 9.5 acres, scale 1/600, at Wongneichong and Telegraph Bay Village were surveyed for permit purposes.
(f) Boundaries of certain lots and the street alignment of a portion of Queen's Road Central were set out for the Buildings Ordinance Office.
New Kowloon:
(a) 3.0 acres, scale 1/2400, at Kowloon Tsai, and 40.0 acres, scale 1/2400, at Cheung Sha Wan were sur- veyed for permit purposes.
(b)
A survey and plan of New Kowloon Cemetery No. 1, 5 acres, scale 1/2400, was prepared for the Urban Council.
(c) An area of 35 acres at Kowloon Tsai was set out and
flagged.
New Territories;
(a) A survey and plan of the new Sai Kung Market, 1 acre, scale 1/600, was made for the District Officer, New Territories.
(b) An area of 250 acres at Shek Po was set out and
flagged.
(c) A photographic mosaic plan, scale 1,100 feet to 1 inch, of an area of 500 acres at Ping Shan was prepared from air photographs for the Director of Air Services.
68. General: Surveys were made in detail for plans to be attached to Crown Leases of six lots totalling about 25 acres. It was not possible to record co-ordinate values of each angle of the lot, nor to plot these surveys on the survey sheets of the Colony as the detailed records of the Colony traverse frame- work have still to be re-constructed.
16
69. The boundaries of 17 arous totalling 332,067 sq. ft. (building lots, permit areas, etc.) were set out, and the frontage lines to streets of 4 lots were chocked.
70. Boundaries of certain lots and the stroct alignment of a portion of Queen's Road Centrul were set out for the Buildings Ordinance Office,
71. Twelve surveys were made and plans prepared and proved in Court for the Police Department in connection with tradic and criminal cases.
72. The annual perambulation of the Anglo-Chinese Bound- ary and inspection of boundary marks was carried out. Six boundary stones were found to be displaced and negotiations. are proceeding with a view to their replacement.
Survey of the Colony.
73. The following tabulated statement shows the work. carried out in connection with the survey of the Colony. It was not possible to plot certain other surveys carried out during the year on the survey sheets of the Colony as the detailed co-ordinate values and records of the Colony minor triangulation and traverse framework need considerable reconstruction owing to loss during the Japanese occupation.
Area sur-
LOCALITY.
!Area sur- veyed and plotted in
veyed and
Chainage
plotted in
acres. Scale
acres. Scale
in feet.
1/600.
1/2400.
Hong Kong Island
City of Victoria..
4.4
The Peak
57.0
1,888 31,835
Wongneichong Gap..
1.0
1,090
North Point, Quarry Bay...
1.0
510
Pokfulam
8.0
1,970
Brick Hill, Deep Water Bay
6.5
2,960
Repulse Bay...
3.0
860
Stanley
10.0
2,750
Tytam Bay
6.2
1,500
Kowloon
16.0
10.0
8,340
New Kowloon
Ngau Chi Wan.
12.5
1,940
Kun Tong
46.0
10,000
New Territories
Cheung Chau Island........ Mai Po
9.0
5,100
460.0
36,000
(marsh detail
from air photos)
Totals.....
111.6
539.0
106,743
LOCALITY
Scale
Acres
Chainage
Hong Kong Island
The Peak
1/000
2.0
250
The Peak
1/2400
3.5
300
New Kowloon
Kowloon Tsai (with spot heights) 1/2400 Vicinity of Kai Tak Airport
20.0
5,050
Perimeter Road
1/990
22.0
4,930
Traverses
74. The former detailed records of the co-ordinates of the traverse stations of the Colony survey were lost during the Japanese occupation. Over 300 of these stations (picket boxes) still exist on the ground and will be re-connected by recorded traverses as opportunity and the reconstruction of the Minor Triangulation permits.
75.
The following main traverses and provisional portions of main traverses were carried out during the year.
Hong Kong
Chainage
in feet.
Angular misclo-
Linear misclo-
sure.
sure.
From Victoria Peak Main Trig. No. to Mt.
Kellet Minor Trig. No. 35.
8,439
0' 30"
1:19,800
From Mt. Gough Minor Trig. No. 36 to Sta. at Jardine's Corner on Main Traverse Main Trig. No. 1 to Minor Trig. No. 35. 3,568 From Whitty Street Minor Trig. along Whitty Street, Des Voeux Road West, and Queen's Road West.
0' 27"
1:16,270
2,800
0′ 05′′
1:15,000
From a resected position, North Point, to
a resected position Quarry Bay. From Overbays Minor Trig. No. 128 to a
resected position Deep Water Bay. From a resected position B. S. No. 4, W.D. Lot 21 along Wongneichong Gap Road. ... From Ada Rise Minor Trig.
3,557
0' 25"
1: 15,330
+
2,453
0′ 30′′
1: 9,930
1,050
0' 10"
1:15,000
807
From Magazine Gap Minor Trig.
870
Kowloon and New Kowloon
From Sacred Hill Minor Trig. along Kai Tak Airport Perimeter Road to Monu. 87 Sai Kung Road.
16,300
1' 30"
1:12,000
From Sacred Hill Minor Trig. to station near Tam Kung Road on main traverse Sacred Hill to Monu. 87.
2,296
0' 20"
1:16,880
From resected position near K.C.R. Station, Tsim Sha Tsui along Salisbury Road, Nathan Road, Jordan Road and Canton Road.
.18,000
0' 50"
1:21,000
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Large Scale Plans.
76. Of the pre-war 1. 600 and 1/2400 survey sheets and tracings only about half were receiver. In Hong Kong, eight new survey sheets, scale 1 600, and one tracing, scale 1/600, were taken up. In New Kowloon, one sheet, scale 1/2400 was taken up. In the New Territories, one sheet, scale 1 2400, was taken up. No appreciable amount of reduction from 1 600 to 1 2400 scale was carried out as no eidograph or photostatic equipment was available.
Contour Surveys.
77. The following contour surveys were carried out during the year:
Area
Vertical surveyed Chainage
LOCALITY
Scale
Interval
& plotted in feet
in feet
in acres
Hong Kong Island
Proposed site of Military Cemetery
Sandy Bay, Mt. Davis.
1/600
10
6.0
2,600
Four areas at North Point, Wong- neichong Gap, Pokfulam Road & Deep Water Bay.
1/600
10
10.0
4,000
Three areas at Stanley Gap, West
Bay & Stanley Beach.
1/600
10
15.0
5,800
Building sites at Green Lane,. Blue
Pool Road & Tai Hang Road.
Two sites at North Point and
Wongneichong Gap.
L
1/1200
10
19.5
6,500
1/1200
10
12.5
3,500
Locality of proposed Military Ceme-
tery Chai Wan to Collinson Road. 1/7920
50
130.0
(plane
table
survey)
Kowloon
Site near Argyle Street, Mission
Road and Campbell Road.
1/2400
10
10.0
2,400
New Kowloon
Site near Diamond Hill....
1/2400
10
3.0
1,300
New Territories
Area at Mai Po for Communal
Communications Board.
1/2400
10
460.0
36,000 (marsh detail
from air photos)
Levelling of the Colony.
78. Twelve existing fundamental bench marks in Hong Kong Island and nine in Kowloon and New Territories were inspected. The former positions of 250 bench marks in Hong Kong Island and 150 in Kowloon and New Territories were inspected. Inspection shows that about 220 of the former 400 bench marks in the Colony remain. The heights of these are known, as they are recorded in "The Levelling of Hong Kong 1929-34". No computations for mean sea level were possible. during the year: as the automatic tide gauges were destroyed. during the war.
79.
Check lines of levels were run between milestones 30 and 31 Maipo, New Territories. New height values were obtained for Anglo-Chinese Boundary Stone No. 1 Sha-tau- kok and a picket box at Castle Peak, New Territories. Height values were established of 13 points on Hospital Road, Hong Kong, for the Tunnels Section, P.W.D., and checked at periodic intervals to ascertain subsidence.
Drawing Office.
80. The following plans, tracings and sun-prints were pre- pared, including 583 plans supplied to other Government Departments:-
Plans and tracings Sunprints
Land Sales
6
24
Leases
12
13
Miscellaneous
4,401
1.480
4,419
1,517
[ 20
DRAINAGE OFFICE
Public Works Recurrent
SI. Maintenance of Sewers and Storm Water Drains.-The majority of the sewers, storm water drains, and trained nullahs throughout the Colony were repaired and maintained in reasonable condition after years of neglect during the Occupation. Many defective or missing manhole and gully covers were replaced. During the year a large number of cast-iron surface fittings were looted, and where possible those on the main thoroughfares were replaced with new castings, while in back streets and side lanes, replacements, were made in pre-cast concrete. The septic tank at Repulse Bay was overhauled, and several minor tanks were repaired.
82. Maintenance of Anti-Malarial Works. Due to lack of maintenance during the Japanese Occupation the majority of the permanent concrete channels at Mt. Parker, Lyemun, Sookunpoo, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen and Pokfulam were over- grown with brushwood, and weeds. Efforts were made to put these works into a reasonable state of efficiency. Depart- mental labour was employed in clearing undergrowth and in removing deposits of silt.
83.
Public Works Extraordinary
Rehabilitation
Repairs to Damaged Sewers and Stormwater Drains.~ The general condition of existing sewerage and storm water systems throughout the Colony, on the re-occupation of the Colony, was found to be extremely poor. In certain areas drains had been subjected to considerable bombing and shell- ing at various times and where any repairs carried out by the Japanese they were found to be extremely primitive. The whole of the year was occupied in dealing with major damage in the following districts:
Hong Kong. Sewers and storm water drains in Fenwick Street, Hennessy, Gloucester, Fleming and Jaffe Roads, Wan- chai; sewers in the Aberdeen and Pokfulam catchment areas and storm-water drains in Coombe Road and Plunkett's Road, The Peak.
Kowloon. Sewers and storm water drains were recon- structed in Bailey Street, Wuhu Street, Bulkeley Street and Dyer Avenue in the Kowloon Dock area; Granville and Carnarvon Roads, Ashley and Kimberly Roads, Derby and Middle Roads.
[ 21 ]
84. Clearing Drains and Culverts.-Large sund, boulder and silt deposits were cleared from many large drains and culverts throughout the Colony, especially those adjacent to the harbour where tidal action had prevented self-cleansing during rainstorms. The principal drains cleared were between Aldrich Street, Shaukiwan East and Tai Hang Village along King's Road, at Pokfulam, Glenealy and Queen's Road, East in Hong Kong. The majority of all the main drains in Kowloon and New Kowloon were cleared.
85. Repairs and Reconstruction of Nullahs and Channels.- Considerable damage was discovered on all nullahs and large channels throughout the Colony. Apart from damaged para- pet walling and missing iron-railings at ground level, large sections of damaged walling were dealt with. The work carried out during the year was confined to the larger and more important works which included road bridging in the thickly populated areas and those adjacent to the main traffic routes. The main repair works in Hong Kong were carried out at Pokfulam, Tai Hang and at Po Shan Road above the Hong Kong University. Those in Kowloon and New Kowloon included nullahs at Kowloon Tong, Lai Chi Kok open-cut, Un Long, Kai Tak main and branch channels. Nullah inverts in general were found to be in a bad state of repair and the work of putting these in order was commenced. Many lengths of missing nullah railings were replaced with permanent granite parapet walling.
86. Repairs and Reconstruction of Anti-Malarial Works. Severe damage by bombing, shelling, land slips and washouts had occurred, to which should be added the complete lack of maintenance of anti-malarial works during the Occupation. A start was made on the more important areas and work at Taikoo and Kai Tak progressed favourbly during the year.
New Works
87. Extensions to Sewers and Stormwater Drains. Little work was undertaken owing chiefly to the shortage of materials and the few sales of Crown Land. Several sewer connections were laid, new gullies were constructed or altered as required.
88. Training Nullahs.-Little work was carried out or found necessary owing to the few sales of Crown Land.
1
{ 22 1
ELECTRICAL OFFICE.
89. All electrical installations suffered, from lack of main- tenance during the Occupation, and many buildings were completely stripped of wiring and fittings by looters. In all 533 installation works were carried out and 187,000 yards of cable were used. There was a serious shortage of trained Chinese supervisory staff. The supply of materials was generally satisfactory with certain exceptions such as sockets, plugs and lamps of 100 watts and upwards.
Public Works Recurrent.
90. Maintenance of Government Buildings. - Electrical installations were maintained in reasonably good order in over four hundred buildings. About one thousand fans and five thousand light and power points were tested, and repairs and renewals carried out as far as materials and staff permitted.
Maintenance of Non-Government Buildings. This was kept down to a minimum, and only essential work was done.
Alterations and Additions to Government Buildings were carried out in 122 buildings. Total number of points involved was 4168.
91.
Alterations and Additions to Non-Government Buildings. The number of points dealt with was 1446.
92. Maintenance of Lifts.-Seventeen lifts were maintained. Interruptions were experienced from time to time due to past neglect and lack of maintenance. Overhauls were carried out as rapidly as circumstances permitted. Generally speak- ing, the machinery and equipment were both in bad condition, but by January 1947, all lifts in buildings occupied by Government were working with the exception of one in the Supreme Court where both the winding engine and controller are missing, and replacements are not available.
93. Running Expenses of Workshops.--Considerable altera- tions were made at the workshops at No. 18 Johnston Road, and progress was made in installing machine tools, and the layout generally improved. Fluorescent lights were installed wherever possible, and resulted in a considerable reduction in the cost of current consumed.
94.
Maintenance of Sea Walls and Piers. The installations. were maintained on an austerity basis. Eleven navigation lights were restored,
}
1
:
1 29 1
95. Maintenance of Vehicle Ferry Piers.-The electrical portion of 10 hoists and two vehicle ramps were maintained,
96. Maintenance of Traffic and Street Signs.-The signs at Pedder Street, Des Voeux Road, and Queen's Road, Garden Road were maintained.
Public Works Extraordinary
Rehabilitation
97. Terminal building, Kai Tak Airport.-Lights, fans and power wiring was installed and a high voltage service laid by the China Light & Power Company,
Restoration of Damaged Government Buildings. As buildings were restored electrical services were replaced and kept pace with the building work. The total number of points involved was 6216. As a temporary measure pending the restoration of the Public Company's supply an emergency generating plant was installed at Wanchai Gap to supply houses in the Mount Cameron area. The plant, two 46 KW Diesel-electric sets, was hired from the Military Authorities and operated by P.W.D. personnel, and supplied electricity to residences at Nos. 534, 546, 548, 556 and 557 The Peak. It commenced operating on 14th September, 1946, and closed down on January 31st, 1947, when the Hong Kong Electric Co. resumed their supply.
99.
Restoration of Damaged Non-Government Buildings. Extensive work was carried out at Hillcrest, Bethanie, Felix Villas, 46 MacDonnell Road, etc. The total number of points dealt with was 1593.
100. Replacement of Street Lighting.-Work was carried out at Blake Pier, Queen's Pier and at the Customs Barrier, Sheung Shui.
101. Replacement of Instruments. An A.C. Test Set and 1000 volt megger were received from England.
102. Restoration Typhoon Signal Masts.-Typhoon lights, masts, and symbols were restored at the Royal Observatory, K.C. Railway, Harbour Office, Castle Peak, Stanley and Aberdeen Police Station.
PORT WORKS OFFICE.
103. The sea walls suffered little damage and were not appreciably affected by lack of maintenance during the Japanese Occupation. Most of the piers were in a very poor condition. large areas of timber decking having been looted, and all piers showed signs of deterioration through lack of maintenance. Nearly all the pre-war plant and equipment was lost.
The Japanese did not carry out any dredging with the result that considerable silting had occurred alongside sea-walls and at sewer and stormwater outfalls. However, the main channel in the harbour had actually scoured to a greater depth.
104. Only temporary repairs were carried out under the military administration, apart from the general clearing away of debris and pre-war defence works such as barbed wire entanglements. The shortage of materials precluded the putting in hand of permanent repairs.
105. During the year urgent repair work to arrest further deterioration of structures was carried out in the first instance, and thereafter as staff and materials became available the actual work of rehabilitation was undertaken.
Public Works Recurrent.
106. Maintenance of Sea Walls and Piers.-General Mainten- ance on all sea walls and piers in the Colony was carried out.
107. Maintenance of Vehicle Ferry Piers. Both Jubilee Street and Jordan Road piers were maintained in a fair state of repair, but as permanent rehabilitation repairs could not be carried out owing to shortage of materials, this maintenance work was necessarily confined to keeping the temporary repair work in as satisfactory a state as possible.
108. Maintenance of Harbour Plant and Equipment.-Ex- penditure incurred was small as there was little plant and equipment to maintain.
109. Dredging. Only the most urgent work could be under- taken with the plant it was possible to hire.
Foreshore Dumps.-Dumps were maintained at North Point, Kennedy Town, Cheung Sha Wan and Hung Hom. The dump at Kennedy Town was closed as from 1st November pending further extension of the sea wall. The areas reclaimed at North Point and Cheung Sha Wan were 2.0 and .03 acres respectively.
Maintenance of Kai Tak Aerodrome. The aerodrome was maintained in a satisfactory condition.
Public Works Extraordinary
Rehabilitation
110. Replacement of Plant and Equipment.—Indents for new plant and equipment were placed, but little expenditure was incurred owing to the delays in delivery.
Repairs to Hung Hom Ferry Pier.-The timber section of this pier had completely lost its decking, and the timber piling was in a bad state. It was decided to postpone reconstruction until suitable materials were available.
111. Repairs to Vehicles Ferry Piers. At Jordan Road pier the fenders of the spare berth, all barriers, gates, handrails, hoist ropes and motors were renewed. The booking offices were repaired and the lighting system partly reinstated. At Jubilee Street pier the fenders of the majority of the berths, the barriers, gates, hoist ropes, motors and lighting system were renewed, and the sanitation system was repaired. The steelwork of both piers was painted and the concrete struc- tures whitewashed after being thoroughly cleaned and scraped down. Many of these repairs were of a temporary nature owing to the poor quality materials which were available.
112. Repairs to Sea Walls and Piers.-The war-damaged section of the sea wall opposite Great George Street, Tonno- chy, Fleming and O'Brien Roads, and the Southern arm of the Yaumati Typhoon shelter were reinstated. Major repairs. were carried out at Wilmer Street, Mongkok and Shamshuipo Ferry piers. Minor repairs were affected at Tonnochy Road, Fenwick Street, Queen's, Blake, Harbour Master's, King Shan Wharf, Green Island and Kowloon Police piers. The Arsenal Street landing steps and Yaumati Slipway were also repaired. The following dust boat stations and refuse boat piers were repaired and overhauled:-Fleming Road, Kennedy Town, Whitfield refuse, Whitfield night-soil, Saigon Street, Pitt Street, Kweilin Street and Mataukok.
113. Dredging.-Owing to the lack of plant only urgent work was carried out at seven refuse piers, and at the Dairy Farm wharf in Causeway Bay.
114. Terminal Building and Access to Civil Air Services, Kai Tak. The Japanese enlarged the airfield and in doing so demolished the former administration building and altered the surface water drainage system. It was therefore necessary to construct a new temporary terminal building and this was nearly completed by the end of the year. A new access road was also half completed. New works completed included a septic tank, electric, sub-station, and water supply system.
[ 20
Air raid shelters and blast walls were demolished and the laying of a new parking apron was communced. Investiga- tions were in progress in connection with the strengthening of the decking of the Japanese-built Nos. 3 and 4 nullahs where these mullahs ran beneath the runways.
New Works.
115. New Civil Air Port Preliminary Works. Exploratory borings were taken between Tai Kok Tsui and Stonecutters Island,
Completion of Refuse Pier at French Street.-The con- struction of this pier had been commenced in 1941. A new contract was let and the work was very nearly completed.
Refuse Boat Pier at Saigon Street.-No work on this new pier was carried out, as the existing pier was capable of being temporarily repaired.
Ferry Landing Stage at Aberdeen--Looters had so thoroughly stripped this pier that it had completely disap- peared. No work on a new pier was carried out apart from the taking of a few trial borings.
116. Mole at Castle Peak-This mole was required in connection with the scheme for a night-soil maturing station. Plans and estimates were prepared.
( 27 )
ROADS OFFICE
117. The condition of the 300 miles of ronds in the Colony deteriorated during the Japanese occupation as practically no maintenance was carried out, but fortunately during that time there was relatively little traffic. The plant at Tsat Taz Mui Quarry was completely destroyed, and that at Hok Un suffered severe damage and had been partly dismantled. Many of the tunnels which had been constructed before the war in connection with air raid precautions were dangerous as a result of the removal of the timber shoring and precast concrete arch linings. The Japanese built many tunnels, none of which were satisfactorily lined or shored, and most of them were in an unsafe condition.
118.
Public Works Recurrent
Maintenance was
The
Maintenance of Roads and Bridges.. carried out as satisfactorily as possible with the limited plant and equipment available. Only a small fraction of the tarred materials required were produced owing to the destruction of plant at the pre-war quarries, and shortage of other plant, particularly road rollers, caused progress to be slow. principal items of work carried out were the concrete surfac- ing of Centre Street and Queen Street, the repair and tar painting of Kennedy Road, Conduit Road, Queen Victoria Street, Douglas Street, Tung Lo Wan Road, Canal Road West, Stubbs Road, Shek O Road, Waterloo Road, Kansu Street, Peking Road, Saigon Street, Ma Tau Kok Road, Tung Chau Street, Clearwater Bay Road, and Tai Po Road. Repairs were carried out to walling and surfacing in Island Road and to the abutments of Muk Fu Bridge. The following areas of surfacing were laid during the year:--
Tarpainting
Tarmacadam
Tar-tops
Dry macadam
Concrete
Granolithic paving
85,000 square yards.
7,000
JJ
16,500
J
++
23,300
+1
9,000
**
13,200
J
Maintenance of Approach Roads & Paths to Government Buildings. The principal repairs were carried out at Kowloon Hospital, Royal Observatory, Nos. 275-276 The Peak, and Island House, Tai Po. The approaches and car park at the Colonial Secretariat were re-constructed.
119. Maintenance of Quarries. For the greater part of the year at Hok Un Quarry, crushed stone and tarred materials were produced in small quantities by an improvised plant.
[ 28 ]
Portable crushers and compressors ordered during the Military Administration were received in October and commenced operating in December. In February the repair of one unit of the drying and mixing plant was completed and in March a second unit was also in operation. The output of Hok Un Quarry increased from 151 tons of crushed stone and 30 tons of tarred materials in April, 1946, to 603 tons and 276 tons respectively in March. 1947. The total output for the year
wast-
Crushed stone
Tarred Materials
3412 tons
1462 tons.
Plans were prepared and indents placed for new plant for Morrison Hill quarry to take the place of the destroyed plant. at Tsat Tsz Mui. In order, however, to ensure a supply of stone while awaiting the delivery of new plant from the United Kingdom, a contract for the operation of Morrison Hill quarry was let to a local firm which had available suitable plant. This firm had commenced erection of their plant at the quarry before the end of the year.
120. Maintenance of Footpaths and Drainage Connections.— The principal items carried out were the relaying and patch- ing of footpaths in Queen's Road East, Hennessy Road, Wongneichong Road, Upper Albert Road, Albany Road, Ventris Road, Jordan Road, Castle Peak Road and various roads in the Tsim Sha Tsui and Kowloon Tong districts.
121.
Maintenance of Traffic and Street Signs. Traffic and street signs were maintained satisfactorily.
Street lighting.--The number of lamps maintained at the end of the year was
District
Electric
Gas
Hong Kong
275
323
Kowloon
877
64
New Territories
65
Totals..
1217
387
122. Maintenance of Public Recreation Grounds.—Little work was carried out owing to pressure of more urgent work, and the fact that some of the grounds were in use by the services for the greater part of the year.
123. Dumps.-Dumps were opened in December at Wanchai Gap, Island Road near Aberdeen, Waterloo Road and Carpen-
( 29 )
ter Road. In order to assist in the speedy elvaring of debris from war damaged buildings free permills to dump were issued.
124. Typhoon and Rain Storm Damage. --Daninge was enused by rains early in the year and also by a typhoon lu July. The principal repairs carried out were to embankments at Queen's Gardens, Magazine Gap and Green Lane, construction of retaining walls at Mount Kellet Road and Upper Albert Road and the clearance of a dangerous landslide at the rear of Nos. 147-149 Queen's Road East.
125. Maintenance of Government A.R.P. tunnels.-These were maintained in as satisfactory a condition as possible.
126.
Public Works Extraordinary.
Restoration and Repairs of Roads and Bridges.-The large programme of works under this heading was hampered by the serious shortage of plant and tarred materials. The works carried out included a retaining wall in Gap Road, the remaking of roads in Wanchai, the Wongneichong area, and improvements to Hollywood Road, Stanley Village Road, Arsenal Street, Shanghai Street, Canton Road, Boundary Street, Castle Peak Road, Tai Po Road, and Sha Tin Causeway. Landslips were cleared and retaining walls rebuilt in Shek O Road, Craigmin Road, Sassoon Road, Tai Wan Road, Clear- water Bay Road and Tates Cairn. The realignment of a section of Tai Po Road at Chek Nai Ping was commenced, and the reconstruction of Queen's Road west from the sea front to Pokfulam Road, which had been commenced just before the war, was also put in hand.
127.
Restoration and Repairs to Footpaths and Channels.- Works were carried out at Queen's Road West, Queen's Road Central, Des Voeux Road. High Street, Murray Road, Stubbs Road, Island Road, Blue Pool Road, Pokfulam Road, Pilken Street, Waterloo Road, Castle Peak Road and Tai Po Road.
128. Replacement of Plant and Equipment.-Progress was made with the repair of the plant and equipment recovered from the Japanese, and nearly all repairs to steam rollers which could be undertaken locally were completed. Many indents were placed but practically no new plant had been received by the end of the year.
Replacement of Street Lighting.-Slow progress was made owing to the difficulty of obtaining the necessary lamps and posts. However, 294 new lamps were erected.
129. Replacement of Traffic and Street Signs-A programme of replacement was carried out in co-operation with the Police Traffic Authorities.
[ 30 ]
Filling Japanese Tunnels.A detailed survey of all Japanese constructed tunnels was put in hand, and as the survey of each group was completed, the tunnels in the group were filled. A total length of 9,602 Teet of tunnels was filled which involved the placing of 8.693 cubic yards of fill. Ail known stocks of Japanese explosives in these tunnels were removed, with the exception of the Argyle Street group. This group had almost completely collapsed and the removal of the explosives stored therein was carried out by the Military Authorities.
130. Government A.R.P. Tunnels. These tunnels having been better constructed were not in such a dangerous condi- tion as the Japanese tunnels. A preliminary survey of all tunnels was made. At one of the larger systems which was flooded a new drainage tunnel had to be driven and the filling of certain dangerous sections was commenced. A total of 204 feet of tunnel was filled requiring 723 cubic yards of fill.
131. Tunnel Plant and Equipment.-Indents were placed for drilling and grouting equipment, but no deliveries were made. When this equipment is received the filling of inaccessible lengths through boreholes and grouting behind tunnel linings will be commenced.
Restoration of Damaged Government Buildings. The construction was commenced of a retaining wall to the approach road to the proposed Government quarters at Leighton Hill.
Restoration of Damaged Non-Government Buildings.--- The conversion of premises in Ha Heung Road for use as the transport depot for Kowloon was commenced.
132. Clearance of Building Debris.-This work proceeded satisfactorily according to programme by both departmental labour and by contract. Contracts were let and completed for clearing debris from Lockhart Road, Fa Yuen Street and Bedford Road, The Japanese war memorial near Mount Cameron was demolished, the framework being felled by explosives after panel walls and buttresses had been removed, and the clearance of the site was nearly completed.
133. Restoration of Public Recreation Grounds.--Little work was carried out owing to other more urgent work.
The restoration of the surface water drainage system at King George V Memorial Park was completed. Southorn Play- ground was cleared of accumulations of debris and rubbish.
[ 31
TRANSPORT OFFICE.
134. All Government transport for the greater part of the year was supervised by a Controller of Land Transport work- ing under the Secretariat. The Transport Office was formed in October in preparation for the assumption of control of Transport by the Publle Works Department, which took place on 1st March. This report covers the perlod November to March inclusive.
135. The situation in November was us follows:-Three depots were in operation on the Island at Garden Road and Hennessy Road, with the main depot at Caroline Hill, where the Transport Office was established. On the Mainland transport was operated from an office in the Peninsula Hotel with workshops in a portion of the Far East Motors Com- pany's garage in Nathan Road, with the adjoining open area in use as a transport park.
136. From November the transport system was reorganised and government methods of accounting and store-keeping were introduced, to replace the semi-military organisation under which it had previously operated.
137. At the end of March the Kowloon Office and depot were removed to premises in Ha Heung Road and the office in the Peninsula Hotel and the Far East Motors' Garage were vacated. At the same time the Island depots at Garden Road and Hennessy Road were closed down and all work on the Island was centralised at the Caroline Hill depot.
138. The transport in operation and the staff employed at 1st November and 31st March were as shown below:
Vehicles
1st November
#1st March
Dodge 3-ton
R.A.F. Tippers
185
185
158
Ford 24-ton
+
Ford 15-cwt..
72
37
37
Ambulances
Austin Utilities
20
20
118
118
Requisitioned Cars
353
84
Lorries
239
57
**
Motor Cycles.
37
12
Totals:.
1147
585
Staff.
Monthly paid
Daily paid.
Totals:
( 32 )
1st November
Jist March
192
148
506
407
698
555
139. All R.A.F. tippers were withdrawn by the R.A.F. during December and January, and were replaced in part by 72 new Ford 2 ton lorries which were received in January and February.
140. Maintenance and repairs carried out included 3,391 repairs to vehicles, 2,304 routine servicings, and 1168 tyre repairs or renewals.
[ 33 ] .
VALUATION AND RESUMPTION OFFICE,
141. This office recommenced on 26th July on the resump- tion of duty of the Valuation and Resumption officer and this report covers the period from that date to the end of March.
142. Valuations of 121 hereditaments were made for the Public Works Department in connection with proposed re- sumptions for street widening, town planning development, rehabilitation of damaged properties, purchase of properties, grants of new Crown leases, and sundry other purposes. Valuations of 1,386 hereditaments were made for other Government departments. The total number of valuations made comprised 1,507 hereditaments with a total estimated value of $94,386,184.
143. The following properties were purchased for use as Government quarters:-
(i) R.B.L. 361—No, 45, Shouson Hill Road.
(ii) K.IL. 3358-No. 19, Ho Mun Tin Hill Road.
No resumptions were completed during the year.
[ 34 ]
WATERWORKS OFFICE.
144. Since 1939 the Waterworks have operated as a self- supporting service, and revenue and expenditure are therefore shown separately in the Annual Estimates.
145. The Waterworks did not suffer very severely as a result of the Japanese Occupation. There was a certain amount of looting, some plant was removed and not recovered, but the principal damage was caused by neglect and lack of maintenance.
146.
Good progress was made with the work of rehabilita- tion and by the end of the year nearly all damaged or looted mains had been replaced, catchwaters repaired, and the water supply re-established almost to the pre-war standard.
147. The rainfall recorded at the Royal Observatory for the twelve months ending 31st March 1947 was 81.15 inches, or 4.90 inches below average, and 31.92 inches more than in 1938-39.
148. Low rainfall in the Spring of 1946 had necessitated restricted hours of supply from 27th April, but heavy rain in May and early June enabled full supply to be given from 8th June. On 12th September restricted hours of supply were again imposed owing to low rainfall in August, increased population, the high rate of consumption, and to ensure that the water then in storage would be sufficient to provide for the ensuing dry season. The restrictions were in force at the end of the year, except on Chinese New Year in January, when a full supply was given for three days.
149.
Water consumption since 1922 for the Island and the Mainland is shown in Appendix II, the war years being omitted. The average daily consumption for 1946-47 was 28.18 million gallons compared with 26.82 million gallons for 1939.
150. The standard of purity aimed at in the earlier part of the year was B. Coli absent in 50 c.c, and in October it was possible to raise this standard to B. Coli absent in 100 c.c., in accordance with the Ministry of Health's recommendation in "Bacteriological Examination of Water Supplies". With the exception of an area in Shaukiwan, where local pollution occurred as a result of war damage to house service connec- tions, the results have been very good.
151. Waste detection was proceeded with principally by house to house inspection of inside services, but owing to the non-arrival of spare parts for waste detection meters to
135
[ 35
replace losses due to looting during the war, little could be done in testing mains. The testing and stamping of fittings was re-instituted.
152. Water meters were generally in a bad state of repair as a result of neglect during the war, and over 10,000 meters were missing on the re-occupation of the Colony. The resources of the Workshop were strained to the limit and were seriously handicapped by the non-arrival of spare parts, and many parts had to be made in the Workshop, with consequent further delay. 13,404 meters were repaired out of a total of 18,146 old meters. In addition to the repair of meters a large volume of work was carried out in the Workshop on the repair of plant, fittings, etc. The difficulty of obtaining satisfactory castings, and the obsolete and ineffi- cient condition of the Workshop machines also contributed to further delays. Indents for new machines were forwarded to the Crown Agents.
Public Works Recurrent.
Maintenance of Waterworks
(A) Island
Hours of Supply.
153. The hours of supply were as follows:-
HOURS OF SUPPLY
PER DAY.
PERIOD.
Total No. of days.
Full supply
8th June 1946-11th September 1946 21st January 23rd January 1947
99
16 hours supply
from 6 a.m.- 10 p.m.
12th September 1946-20th January 1947 24th January 1947-31st March 1947.
198
13 hours supply
6,30 a.rn
1st April 1946-7th June 1946
68
7.30 p.m.
Full supply was thus maintained for 99 days compared with 42 days in 1939.
36
36 J
Storage.
154. The quantity of water in the impounding reservoirs at various times during the year was as follows. are given in Appendix III.
Further details
Storage-Million Gallons
DATE.
Gravitation
Pumping Reservoirs. Reservoirs.
Remarks.
Total.
1st April 1939
327.60
407.52
735,12
1st April 1946
279.03
626.16
905.19
1st April 1947
422.65
927.81
1,350.46
10th May 1946
146.85
378.69
525.53
Minimum storage.
27th-30th June 1946
ist 3rd July 1946
653.76
1,708.79
2,362.55
All reser-
19th-21st July 1946
voirs full.
155. Periods when water was lost by overflow were As
follows:-
RESERVOIR.
OVERFLOW PERIODS.
Tytam Tuk
27th-30th June,
1946.
1st-31st July,
1946.
1st-29th August,
1946.
Aberdeen Lower
8th-30th June,
1946.
1st-31st July,
1946.
1st-22nd August,
1946.
19th September,
1946.
4th-8th October,
1946.
Pokfulam
8th-10th June,
1946.
26th-30th June,
1946.
1st-9th July,
1946.
19th-31st July,
1946.
2nd August,
1946.
14th
September,
1946.
30th September,
1946.
4th-5th October,
1946.
[ 37 1
Pumping.
156. The amounts of filtered water pumped by the various pumping stations on the distribution system are given in Appendix VII. The total amount pumped to the Peak was 44.94 million gallons, equal to a daily average of 123,000 gallons, and to the high level districts 255.22 million gallons equal to a daily average of about 690,000 gallons. In addition an amount of 324.15 million gallons equal to a daily average of 888,000 gallons, was pumped for consumption in the city,
157. Unfiltered water was pumped from the Storage Reser- voirs by the Tytam Tuk, Aberdeen and Pokfulam Reservoir Pumping Stations. At Tytam Tuk 1579.58 million gallons were pumped, which was 11.13 million gallons less than in 1939.
At Aberdeen the upper pump worked 1064 hours and the lower pump for 2190 hours. (These pumps are boosters only.) At Pokfulam Reservoir 76.17 million gallons were pumped to the Filter Reds.
Details of pumping returns and costs are given in Appendix VII.
Filtration.
158. The total amounts of water filtered at each filtration plant are given in Appendix IV.
159.
Consumption.
The total quantity of filtered water supplied amounted to 5,849.86 million gallons, representing an average daily consumption of 16.03 million gallons per day, which included 2,218.24 million gallons from the Mainland. The total con- sumption was 47.88 million gallons, equal to 0.13 million gallons per day, more than in 1939. Water was supplied from the Mainland throughout the year, the daily average. being 6.08 million gallons which is equal to 37.9% of the Island average consumption.
160. The average consumption of water per head per day for all purposes was twenty gallons. In arriving at this figure the population has been estimated at 800,000.
Quality of Water.
161. During the period under review samples of water were examined by the Government Pathologist with the following results:
[ 38 ]
Raw WATER:
Total number of samples examined..
145
Number showing B. Coli present in 50 cc. or less...... 145 = 100%
FILTERED WATER-ÜNCHLORINATEU:
147
Total number of samples examined.. Number showing B. Coli present in 50 c.c. or less...... 147 = 100%
FILTERED & CHLORINATED WATER (At Service Reservoirs):
Total number of samples examined.. Number showing B. Coli absent in 50
C.C.
present in 50
146
130 89.05%
13 =
8.91%
in 25
1 = 0.68%
>:
31
}}
}}
in 10
77
|
12
or less...
2
T
1.36%
TAP WATER-FILTERED & CHLORINATED:
Total number of samples examined.... Number showing B. Coli absent in 100 c.c.
466
186
39.91%
ן
**
present in 100 c.c.
27
5.80%
absent in
50 c.c.
160
34.33%
2)
71
27
J
present in
50 c.c.
54
11.59%
in
33 c.c.
2
=
0.43%
JJ
*
:
A
]]
in
25 c.c.
7
---
1.50%
}}
in
16.6 c.c.
11
+7
J
ir
10 c.c. or less *
26 5.58%
**
F
JJ
162.
>
4 = 0.86%
The standard of purity was raised to B. Coli absent in 100 c.c. on 17th October, 1946. The supply was treated with 588 lbs. of liquid chlorine and 182,250 lbs. of chloride of lime which is equivalent to an average admixture of free chlorine of about 14 parts per million. 538 samples of filtered water were analysed by the Government Chemist and in all cases the report was "Satisfactory",
163.
Waste Detection.
13,162 routine inspections of house services were carried out and 1,564 notices to repair or alter defective services were served on members of the Public. 745 taps were rewashered free of charge. 2,956 fittings to be used on inside services by licensed plumbers were tested and stamped. No tests were made by the Deacon Waste Detection meters owing to the loss of all plans showing the layout of the waste detection areas, the lack of staff, and the absence of certain equipment which did not arrive until late in the year.
* Most of these bad samples were from Shaukiwan district where local pollution occurred due to bomb damage to service piping. This was difficult to trace and involved the relaying of a consider- able length of subsidiary piping. This work had not been completed by the end of the year.
39 1
House Service.
164. The number of meters fixed and permanently removed during the year was as follows:-
ΤΥΡΕ
Fixed,
Removed.
Increase.
No. of Metered Services on
31.3.47.
Domestic
Trade
2,325
69
2,256
11,616
Construction
Shipping
14
Government
8
10
20
8
78
Totals:
2,347
73
2,274
11,714
165. 6,289 requisitions for work to be carried out for consumers at their cost were dealt with (including re- connections). 1,794 applications from licensed plumbers for permission to carry out work on inside services were approved. 7,297 inspections of services were made by European Inspec- tors of Works. 2,009 meters were removed for repair and refixed. Two new fire services were connected to the mains. 56 licences to carry out work on inside water services were issued to plumbers after investigation of their knowledge and facilities to carry out such work.
166.
Under "Maintenance of Government Buildings", 2,023 items of work were carried out in connection with the maintenance and minor alterations to inside services and the costs charged to that vote.
167. Under “Alterations and Additions to Government Buildings", extensive work was carried out in connection with repairs to the water system at Kennedy Town Slaughter House.
General.
168. General maintenance was continued throughout the year and all plant and structures maintained in reasonably good condition. At the Gardens Service Reservoir subsidence occurred at the North West corner with the result that considerable leakage developed. Designs were prepared for remedial works and Contract Documents were in course of preparation at the end of the year.
[ 40 ]
169. The following repairs were carried out to the distribu- tion system?
1,966 repairs to outside service.
254
mains.
The following new mains were laid :—
Size of main.
length in fl.
6" C.I.
1,128
3" W.L
450
2" W.I
2,430
(B)
LOCATION.
Between Kotewall Road and main to Queen Mary Hos- pital Tank.
From Queen's Road East to
Bullock Lane Workshop.
From Shouson Hill Road to
the Refugee Camp.
Kowloon.
170.
Hours of Supply.
The hours of supply were as follows:
Hours of supply per day.
Full Supply.
16 hours supply from
6 a.m.-10 p.m.
13 hours Supply from
6.30 a.m.-7.30 p.m.
PERIOD
Total No. of days
8th June, 1946-11th Sept., 1946 21st Jan, 1947-23rd Jan., 1947
12th Sept., 1946-20th Jan., 1947 24th Jan., 1947-31st Mar. 1947
99
198
Ist April, 1946- 7th June, 1946
68.
Full supply was thus maintained for 99 days compared with 44 days in 1939.
[ 41 ]
Storage.
171. The quantity of water in the impounding reservoirs at various times during the year was as follows. Further details are given in Appendix V.
DATE.
Storage- Mill. Galls.
Remarks,
1st April
1939
1,148.03
1st
1946
tr
1,731.56
1st
1947
11
1,858.13
10th May
1946
1,151.08
Minimum storage.
19th
24th
}
July 1946
2nd
4th
August 1946.
3,608.25
All reservoirs full.
5th
6th
13th
30th
Sept. 1946
4th October 1946
172.
Periods when water was lost by overflow were as
follows:-
RESERVOIR
OVERFLOW PERIODS
Kowloon Byewash
19th-31st July
1946.
1st 10th August
1946.
13th-18th August
1946.
23rd August
1946.
13th-17th September
1946.
21st-25th September 1946.
30th September
1946.
1st October
1946.
4th 5th October
1946.
11th
October
1946.
Jubilee
19th-31st July
1946.
1st 15th August
1946.
17th-31st August
1946.
1st September
1946.
8th-24th September
1946.
30th September
1946.
1st-2nd October
1946.
4th 5th October
1946.
173.
Į (2
Filtration.
A total quantity of 6,666,08 million gallons of water was filtered during the year, 5,528.77 million gallons of which were provided from Jubilee Reservoir and the Smugglers Pass Intake. The Kowloon Slow Sand Bods dealt with 1,254.42 million gallons and the Rapid Gravity Filters at Shek Li Pui filtered the remaining 5,401.66 million gallons. Of the latter quantity 2,218.24 million gallons were supplied to the Island by the Cross Harbour Mains. Details are given in Appendix
V.
Consumption.
174, The total quantity of water consumed in Kowloon during the year was 4,432.64 million gallons which included 98.46 million gallons supplied to shipping through Lai Chi Kok Water Boat Dock. These figures represent a total average daily supply of 12.15 million gallons per day, a total increase of 446.69 million gallons, equal to 1.23 million gallons per day, compared with 1989. The shipping supply consumption was 2.37 million gallons less than 1939. Details are shown in Appendix V.
The average consumption per head per day for all purposes was twenty gallons. In arriving at this figure the population has been estimated at 600,000.
Quality of Water.
175. During the year samples of water were examined by the Government Pathologist with the following results:
RAW WATER:
Total number of samples examined.
FILTERED WATER-UNCHLORINATED:
Total number of samples examined..
31
Number showing B. Coli present in 50 c.c. or less.........
31
= 100%
31
31 1007
31
Number showing B. Coli present in 50 c.c. or less.......
FILTERED WATER-CHLORINATED (At Service Reservoirs);
Total number of samples examined....
Number showing B. Coli absent in 100 c.c.
ונ
J.
*
19
...
+
present in 100 c.c.
absent in
50 c.c. present in 50 c.c.
1 =
14 = 45,16%
1 =
3.23%
3.23%
1548.38%
TAP WATER-FILTERED & CHLORINATED;
Total number of samples examined....... Number showing B.C.C. absent in 100 c.c.
5
**
......་
183
83 =
45.36%
76 41.53%
15=
8.20%
7= 3.83%
**
1
"
++
50 c.c.
present in
50 c.c.
ET
++
**
25 c.c.
||
}}
+
נ!
F
10.6 c.c.
1
10 c.c.
=
rt
J
2
It
Ꭸ
0.54%
1 = 0.54%
[ 43 ]
The standard of purity was raised on 17th October 1946 to B. Coli absent in 100 c.c.
During the year the Mainland Supply was treated with 3,788 lbs. of liquid chlorine and 197,140 lbs. of chloride of lime which is equivalent to an average admixture of 0.75 part per million of free chlorine. 166 analyses were made by the Government Chemist and in all cases the results were given as "Satisfactory”.
176.
Waste Detection.
6,068 routine inspections of house services were carried out in this connection during the year and notices to alter or repair defective services served on members of the public in 898 instances. 525 taps were re-washered free of charge. 2,559 fittings supplied by licensed plumbers for use on inside services were tested and stamped.
House Service.
177. The following metered services were connected or dis- connected during the year:-
Type of Supply Connected Disconnected
No. of Metered Services
on 31. 3. 47.
Domestic
Trade
1,508 600
1,024
5,728
216
2,420
Shipping
5
1
25
Building
39
26
13
Government
29
Totals:
2,152
1,267
8,215
Sixteen repairs were carried out to inside services for consumers at their cost. 1,075 applications from licensed plumbers for permission to carry out work on inside services were received during the year. 2,432 inspections of new services were carried out in addition to the routine inspections. above. Two private fire services were connected to the mains and two were disconnected.
178. Under "Maintenance of Government Buildings", 853 items of work were carried out in connection with the main- tenance of inside services viz: 846 in Kowloon, one in Taipo, three in Fanling and three in Un Long.
179.
[ 44 ]
General,
General maintenance was continued throughout the year and all plant and structures maintained in reasonably good condition. It was found that subsidence of the sand. wedge and protective pitching at Jubilee Dum had occurred during the war years. A monthly survey was made over about six months, and as no further subsidence appeared to be taking place, it was decided to carry out repair works. These were carried out under Contract No. 18 of 1947 with Messrs. Ching Hing Construction Co. and were nearly completed by the end of the year.
Considerable leakage was found to be taking place. through the main upstream washout valve at Jubilee Dam. Owing to the large head of water-over 200 feet-repair work presented considerable difficulty. An attempt was made, with the assistance of salvage experts from the Royal Navy, to effect repairs, but these were not successful. As there was reason to believe that the valve had suffered damage due to the continuous jetting of water it was decided to discontinue the work until a new valve had been obtained from England.
180. Considerable leakage developed in the West half of Pipers Hill Service Reservoir and investigation shewed that the concrete in the Invert had become porous. Plans were prepared for laying a new Invert of vibrated concrete and Contract No. 99/47 with the Messrs. Hong Kong Engineering and Construction Co. was accepted on the 29th of March. Work had not commenced by the end of the year.
181. Slight leakage developed through the expansion joints. at Yaumati Service Reservoir. Remedial work was success- fully carried out.
182.
The following repairs were carried out to the distribu- tion systems:-
2,865 repairs to outside service.
208 repairs to mains.
The following new mains were laid:
183.
Size of Mains
Length in feet.
Location.
4/ C.I.
500
South Wall Road.
6/ C.I.
72
Navy Street.
6/ C.I.
50
Pratas Street.
6" C.I.
208
Kai Tak Airport,
Terminal Building.
Total: 830
[46]
The following mains were removed or abandoned:-
Size of Mains
Length in feet,
Location.
6" C.I.
123
Kai Tak Airport,
Terminal Building.
7" C.I.
1200
Total: 1,323
Shanghai Street
between Jordan Road and Kansu Street.
(C) New Territories.
Village Supplies.
Taipo.
184-
The total quantity of water supplied during the year was 70.33 million gallons as compared with 41.69 million gallons in 1939, equivalent to an average consumption of 193,000 gallons per day. There were eleven public standpipes and twenty-two fire hydrants in use at the close of the year.
185.
Fanling.
The total quantity of water supplied during the year was 43.17 million gallons compared with 13.03 million gallons in 1939, equivalent to an average consumption of 118,000 gallons per day. There was one fire hydrant in use at the close of the year.
Un Long.
186. The total quantity of water supplied during the year was 41.68 million gallons as compared with 28.11 million gallons in 1939, equivalent to an average consumption of 114,000 gallons per day. There were three public standpipes. and twelve fire hydrants in use at the close of the year.
187.
Tsun Wan.
The total quantity of water supplied during the year was 36.32 million gallons as compared with 35.87 million gallons in 1939, equivalent to an average consumption of 100,000 gallons per day. There were ten public standpipes and eleven fire hydrants in use at the close of the year.
[ 46 ]
188. The following routine work was carried out to the Village Supplies during the year:
TAIPO FANDING UN LONG
TSUN WAN
Routine inspections of inside service..... 27
16
19
12
Notices to alter or repair defective
services......
Inspections of new services....
Repairs to outside services..
195
J
38
25
35
22
27
1
16
4
189. Metered services in the Villages were connected or disconnected as follows:---
Connected.
Un Tsun
Disconnnected.
Un Tsun
Taipo Fanling Long Wan Taipo Fanling Long Wan
—
Domestic
44
3
45
4
9
2
15
3
Trade
6
1
8
Building
2
1.
Government. 1
1
3
Total:
53
4
53
8
10
3
18
3
Maintenance of Meters.
190. The numbers of meters repaired and tested during the year were 9,004 (including 309 repaired on site) on the Island, and 4,400 (including 100 repaired on site) on the Mainland. Thirteen meters on the Island and seven on the Mainland were tested under Regulation 7 of the Waterworks Ordinance. During the year 372 meters were found unfit for further service. At the end of the year there were 11,723 meters actually in use on the Island and 8,532 on the Mainland. Details of the total numbers of meters on 31st March 1947 are as follows:-
Island.
Metered services
11,714
Main meters
9
Check meters on test.
2
(Workshop
1,140
(House Service Depot
1,196
14,061
[ 47 ]
Mainland.
Dal Kowloon Chi
Kok Taipo Fang Long Wan
New Territory Villages
Un T'sun
Total.
Melcred Services.
0.200
9
123
10
162
17
8,526
Main meters,
3
1
Stock at Yaumati
Depot
443
8,075
191.
Details of the numbers of meters in use and repaired for the nineteen years together with the average cost of the meters repaired for the past fourteen years for the Island and Mainland are given in Appendix VIII. (Both periods are exclusive of the war years.)
Maintenance of Workshop.
192. In the Workshop the manufacture and repair of various articles required for the maintenance of Waterworks pumping plants, machinery, hydrants, valves, etc., and for other sub- departments and departments, was continued. A total of 678 orders were dealt with, 623 being for Waterworks.
193.
The annual inspection and overhaul of boilers in Government buildings was carried out. In addition, 8,695 meters were dismantled, overhauled, and tested.
194. The costs of operating the Workshop were charged by transfer to the respective heads of expenditure.
195.
Miscellaneous Waterworks.
Typhoon and Rainstorm Damage.
Damage caused by typhoons and rainstorms occurred mainly to catchwaters and buildings. Repairs to buildings were carried out by the Architectural Office at the following:-
Elliot Filters Quarters
Pokfulam Reservoir Quarters
Aberdeen Filters Quarters
Tytam Tuk Pumping Station
Tytam Tuk Pumping Station Quarters
Bullock Lane Depot
Yaumati Depot.
171
196.
48
A fairly large slip occurred at chainage 10,500 feet on the Shing Mun Catchwater. This was repaired under Con- tract No. 281-46, the work being completed in March, 1947,
Small slips also occurred at the following:-
Aberdeen East and West Catchwaters Tytam Tak East Catchwaters Beacon Hill Catchwaters
Yaumati Hill Service Reservoir
Pipers Hill Service Reservoir.
These slips were cleared either under the Maintenance Contract or Departmentally.
Renewals and Improvements Fund.
197. No work was carried out under this item as no funds were made available.
Miscellaneous.
198. Under this item various items of work, for which there was no other suitable Head of Charge, were carried out, including the cleaning up of Bullock Lane Depot and the removing of an accumulation of ashes at Pokfulam Road Pumping Station.
In addition the following were charged to this Item:-
Daily paid office messengers' wages
Stores required for cleaning the offices Advertising.
Public Works Extraordinary.
(A). Rehabilitation.
199. Replacement of Water Meters: During the occupation a large number of water meters were looted or damaged and a survey in September and October 1945 showed that about 10,000 meters were missing. To replace them orders were placed for 10,625 new meters, 6,560 through the War Office, and 4,065 under Indent No. B.4/9. By the end of the year 4,890 new meters had arrived in the Colony and were put into
use.
200. Replacement of Waste Detection Meters:~~Some of the waste detection meters in use before the war were removed during the occupation and parts of others - wore
Tooted.
49
Replacements were ordered from the makers under Indents Nos. B.4/9/5 and 88/46, but only part had arrived by the end of the year,
201. Replacement of Pumping Units:-The six "Allen" centrifugal electrically driven pumps installed at Garden Road and Albany Pumping Stations in 1939 (see paras. 184 and 140 of the 1939 Report) were removed during the occupation. One of the Albany pumps was found at the Japanese Radar Station on Tai Mo Shan. This pump was recovered and reinstalled at Albany Pumping Station. The other pumps were not discovered and replacements were ordered from the makers under Indent No. B.4/8 in March 1946. These pumps had not arrived by the end of the year.
202. As a temporary measure one electrically driven pump was obtained locally and put into use in May, and four temporary mobile pumps, two petrol driven and two diesel driven, were obtained through the War Office and installed in August. Though of insufficient capacity these pumps have assisted greatly in maintaining the supply to the mid-levels.
Island.
Rplacement of Distribution Mains and Hydrants:— 30,644 feet of looted or damaged pre-war distribution mains were replaced. 136 pedestal-type and forty-seven ground- type hydrants were made serviceable during the year, bringing the total of hydrants in working order to 215 pedestal-type and 634 ground-type at the end of the year.
204. Details of mains laid are as follows:-
Size of Main (Diameter): Length in feet.
LOCALITY:
Total:
8"
6"
5"
4"
3/
2/
Peak District..
Other Districts. 60
-
3,244
170
25
8,011 11,195
75 5,052
22,450
2,806
8,194
Totals:
G6
170
25
3,319 13,063 14,001
30,644
Mainland.
205. 4,133 feet of looted or damaged pre-war distribution mains were replaced. Forty-seven pedestal and eighty-eight ground-type hydrants were made serviceable during the year, bringing the total number of hydrants in working order to 141 pedestal-type and 321 ground-type at the end of the year. 233 mains valves were repaired.
[ 50
Details of mains laid are as follows:-
206.
Size of Main.
Length In feel.
3" WJ.
3,010
3" W..
605
4" C.I.
60
5" C.I.
108
S" C.I.
350
Total:
4,133
LOCALITY.
Diamond Hill Supply, Kowloon Tong Flush System.
pumping supply.
Baker Street, Hung Hom.
Wuhu Street, Hung Hom. Bulkeley Street, Hung Hom.
T
207.
Replacement of Filter Sand and Tiles:-No. 1 Filter Bed at Albany and No. 5 Bed at Elliot Filters were damaged by bombs or shell fire during the occupation, necessitating complete replacement of the Filter Tiles, Gravel and Sand. In addition the depth of Filter Sand at all filtration plants was found to be well under the amount required for proper filtration.
208. 6,000 new vibrated concrete tiles, 18"X18"X2′′ thick, were obtained under Contract No. 39/46 from The Hong Kong Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. The supplying and laying of these was completed in September.
209. About 1,200 cubic yards of sand and gravel for the Mainland Filter Beds was obtained under Contract No. 131/46 with Messrs. Ching Iling Construction Co. The work under this Contract was completed early in January, 1947.
210. About 2,000 cubic yards of sand and gravel for the Island Filter Beds was obtained under Contract No. 279/46 with Messrs. Hang On Tai. This work was completed in February, 1947.
211. Replacement of Staff Quarters:-Nine quarters for Waterworks Inspectors of Works existed before the war, as follows:-
(a) At Tytam Tuk Pumping Station. (b) At Tytam Tuk Reservoir.
(c)
At Elliot Filters, Lower Flat.
(d) At Elliot Filters, Upper Flat.
(e) At West Point Filters.
(f) At Garden Road Pumping Station.
(g) At Bowen Road Filters.
(h) At Kowloon Filters.
(W) At Shing Mun (Hull's Bungalow).
212.
Of these, Quarters (b), (g) and (b) were destroyed beyond repair during the war, and all the others were to some extent damaged or looted. Quarters (a), (c), (d), (e) and (f) were repairerd during the year by the Architectural Office, and occupied by Waterworks Staff. An estimate of the cost of repairs to No. () was prepared but no work carried out. No replacement of the quarters destroyed, (5), (g) and (b), was carried out.
213. Repairs were also carried out by the Architectural Office to war damaged Chinese Staff Quarters at:—
Tytam Tuk Pumping Station
Tytam Reservoir
Pokfulam Reservoir
Pokfulam Road Pumping Station Albany Filters.
214. Replacement of Workshop Machines and Tools.-The Workshop when taken over from the Japanese was found to be very poorly equipped, the best machines having been removed and old machines substituted. A few machines and some tools were obtained locally through the Custodian of Property and from Engineer Stores Base Depot, but the main requirements were ordered through the Crown Agents under Indents No. 3505/1, 3505/2, B.16/1, B.16/2, 84/46 and 85/46. Very little of the materials on these Indents had arrived by the end of the year.
215. Repairs to Catchwaters and Conduits-Due to failure on the part of the Japanese to repair damage to Catchwaters --probably caused by shell fire during hostilities several large landslides, which carried away portions of the Catch- waters at Beacon Hill and Shing Mun, occurred during the occupation. Minor damage had occurred to all Catchwaters, and the filling pool at the junction of Tytam Tuk East Catchwater, and the outfall from Mt. Parker (lower) and Pottinger Peak Catchwaters was full of debris and silt.
216. The Shing Mun North Conduit was found to have been broken just below Jubilee Dam and to have been repaired by building in two Nos. 24" diameter steel pipes. These pipes had a smaller discharge capacity than the remainder of the Conduit and formed a bottleneck on the supply. A similar repair was found on the Bowen Road Conduit east of Bowen Road Filters.
217. Minor repair works were carried out Departmentally in 1945 or early 1946, but the following major works were completed under Contract during the year under review:-
[ 52 ]
Repairs to Shing Mun North Conduit.
General repairs to Bencon 11111
Calchwater.
Repairs to Beacon Hill Catchwater of chainage 15,000 and 16,500 Jeet. Repairs to Shing Mun Catchwater al
18,000 feet.
Removal of silt and debris from
Tytam Tuk East Catchwater.
Contract No. 3/45. Completed May 1946.
Contract No. 1A/46. Completed May 1946. Contract No. 20/46. Completed October 1946.
Contract No. 21/46. Completed August 1946.
Contract No. 12/47. Completed March 1947.
218. Replacement of Instruments.—Practically all surveying and drawing instruments and many other precision instruments required at Pumping Stations and in the Workshops were lost during the occupation. Some replacements were obtained from War Office sources during the British Military Adminis- tration. The balance required were ordered during the year under Indents Nos. B.4/13, 3516/1, 63/46 and 82/46, but only a few items had been received by the end of the year.
219. Replacement of Addressograph Equipment-Part of the addressograph equipment used prior to the war on the preparation of water accounts was found after the re-occupa- tion, but was completely unserviceable. New equipment was ordered under Indent D.4/2, but this equipment had not been rreceived by the end of the year.
220. Replacement of Books.-All Technical Books were lost during the war. Replacements were ordered under Indent No. D.6/41, and most had been received by the end of the
year.
221. Replacement of Two Motor Vans. Before the war two "Ford" motor vans were equipped specially for repairing water meters on site. This method of repairing meters was found to be very effective in speeding up meter repairs and in reducing the cost of repairs. These two vans were not recovered after the war and two "Jowett" vans were purchased, in January 1947, to replace them.
222. Replacement of Rapid Gravity Filter Plant at Eastern. -The scheme for replacing the Slow Sand Filter Beds at Eastern with Rapid Gravity Filters was described in para- graphs 156-158 of the 1939 Departmental Report. The new plant, consisting of an eight million gallons per day Paterson filtration plant, together with the necessary power and pumpling units, and steel reinforcing bars for the buildings, were delivered in the Colony during 1941. Work on the construction of the buildings under Contract No. 14/41 had not progressed sufficiently to allow the plant to be installed before the outbreak of war.
| 63 |
223. After the re-occupation it was found that all the plant and materials obtained in 1941 and disappeared and no trace of them has since been found. Repeat orders were therefore placed with the manufacturers under indents Nos. B.4/10-12- 14. Some slight modifications were made on the original design to bring it in line with modern practice. By the end of the year only the steel reinforcing bars and some piping had been received.
224.
Replacement of Boring Plant for Tai Lam Chung Valley Scheme. The investigation by drilling of foundations for proposed dam sites in the Tai Lam Chung Valley was in progress before the war, and is referred to in paragraphs 179- 180 of the 1939 Departmental Report. This work had not been completed prior to the war. After the re-occupation it was found that all the drilling plant had disappeared and it could not be traced. Replacement plant was ordered under Indents Nos. B.4/15 and B.4/16-B.4/16 (3), most of which except that under B.4/15 had arrived by the end of the year.
225.
Replacement of Chlorine Cylinders. Before the war the Waterworks had about 600 high pressure steel cylinders for the conveyance of the liquid chlorine used on the sterili- sation of the Water Supply. These cylinders circulated continuously between the Colony and the United Kingdom. Empties were shipped to the United Kingdom in lots of about 100 for testing, refilling and return to the Colony.
226. At the end of the war most of the cylinders had disappeared and replacements had to be obtained. Orders were placed under Indents Nos. B.4/1 and B.4/5 and by the end of the year 420 full cylinders had been received.
227.
Public Works Extraordinary.
(B). New Works-Waterworks.
Purchase of Motor Transport.-As all pre-war transport vehicles had disappeared during the war, provision was made for replacing them. In January 1947 three Jowett cars were purchased for use as Staff cars. The other Staff cars in use and the load-carrying vehicles were obtained from the Controller of Land Transport, and payment for the cost of them has not so far been called for.
228. Tai Lam Chung Valley Scheme--Preliminary Investi- gation Expenses.-This work was referred to in paras. 179-- 180 of the 1939 Departmental Report and in para. 131 of this Report.
The area was visited in 1940 by Mr. Binnie of Messrs. Binnie Deacon & Gourley, the Consulting Engineers for the
scheme.
The results of the borings taken on the two alterna- tive proposed dam sites selected by Mr. Binnie were submitted to the Consulting Engineers and a report was prepared by them and forwarded to the Government in 1941.
As the bores revealed an unsatisfactory geological formation at both sites it was decided that further bores should be made at a third site but work was brought to a stop by the outbreak of the Pacific War.
229. During the year it was decided that the investigations should be recommenced and that the most up-to-date methods should be employed. Arrangements were therefore made to engage the services of the firm of Messrs. Legrand, Sutcliff and Gell to carry out a geophysical survey in conjunction with borings, The personnel selected for this work had not arrived by the end of the year.
The camp which was constructed on the site prior to the war to house the drillers, etc., had disappeared, and a new camp consisting of Office, Stores, Quarters etc., was con- structed, mainly from Nissen huts, during the year.
A pumped water supply from the main stream was installed and the access road improved. A certain amount of field survey work was also carried out.
230.
Other Works.
Pedestal Hydrants.--New positions for twelve pedestal hydrants were given by the Fire Brigade Department. The castings and fittings necessary for these were obtained and machined in the Workshop but the hydrants were not fixed by the end of the year. One pre-war pedestal hydrant was discovered amongst other Waterworks stores and this hydrant was fixed at the new Terminal Building, Kai Tak Airport.
Revenue and Expenditure.
231. Financial Accounts Statement No. 1 shows the Revenue received for Water Services during the year. The quarterly issue of water accounts was recommenced in November 1945 under the Military Administration. The same rates as those in force from 1939 to 1941 were charged but on April 1st 1946 due to the higher costs of operation of the Waterworks the rates were raised to those shown in Column 2 of Appendix 1. In order to simplify the issue of water accounts the separate fees for the hire of meters and for flushing with water from the mains were abolished and consolidated rates, shown in Column 3 of Appendix I, were established and brought into effect from October 15th.
:
¡
[55]
232. The preparation of water accounts due to the loss of so many meters and to other meters not having been properly maintained during the occupation, caused considerably in- creased work on the Office Stuff, it being necessary to average some 70%, compared with 20% pre-war, of the water consumptions.
233. It has not been possible to prepare an accurate Statement of Expenditure as the costs of some materials and stores and other charges had not been finalized. Owing to the loss of records it has not been possible to prepare an accurate Statement of Capital Expenditure of Waterworks provided under Public Works Extraordinary from Loans and from Surplus Balances. No expenditure was charged to Loan
funds during the year.
234. The Renewals and Improvements Fund which was established in 1939 by annual contributions of 2% on the capital cost of works built under Public Works Extraordinary and from the Colony's surplus balances showed a credit balance of about a million dollars in December 1941 but this was lost as a result of the occupation of the Colony. The Fund was re-established during the year by a contribution of $391,898.00.
235. Although records have been lost the average consump- tion of water in 1941 was estimated to be about 30 M.G./D. compared with 28.18 M.G./D. for the current year. By the end of 1941 the minimum water resources had been increased to 27.5 M.G./D. by further construction since 1939 when the corresponding resources were 25.4 M.G./D. The population was estimated to be below that of 1941 but as restrictions in the hours of supply had to be imposed from September 11th 1946 to the end of March 1947 and the average consumption for the year was 28.18 M.G./D., a deficiency of resources still exists. Although preparations are being made to increase the water resources by the development of the Tai Lam Chung Valley Water Scheme many years must elapse before any benefit can be available therefrom and consequently with the probably increasing population a period of greater restrictions of the hours of supply is to be expected.
236.
The eleven months under review have seen the re- establishment of the water supply services to a standard very close to that which existed in 1941. This has involved strenuous efforts on the part of the Waterworks Staff which has suffered from the loss of capable officers through retire- ment and other causes, and whose 1941 strength remains practically unchanged.
( 56 )
APPENDIX L
WATER RATES
(per unit of 1,000 gallons)
* Rates
Rates
charged from charged from 15th Nov. 1945 1st Apr. 1946
Rates charged from 15th Oct.
to 1st Apr. 1946. to 15th Oct. 1948.
(2) (1) (2)
(1)
1948. (2) (3)
1.
FILTERED WATER.
(a) for construction or shipping
purposes.
$1.00
$1.20
$2.00
tb) for trade or domestic
purposes.
(1) Peak District.
$0.45
$0.65
$0.80
(ii) Pumped supplies
other than (i)........
$0.35
$0.55
$0.80
(iii) Certain
Military
Areas.
$0.10
$0.30
$0.80
(c) other than (a) and (b)... $0.25
$0.45
$0.80
2.
UNFILTERED WATER.
(a) for construction purposes. $1,00
$1.20
$2.00
(b) for all other purposes.
$0.20
$0.40
$0.80
* Rates which were in effect in December 1941.
(1) Plus meter rent payable quarterly, and where mains water is used for flushing, a flushing fee equivalent to the meter rent.
(2) Subject to a surcharge of 5% for late payment.
(3) Inclusive of meter rent and flushing fee which were abolished
from 15.10.46.
:
1024
1925
CONSUMPTION
LOJA
CHONYVƏ NOINTIK
el
4261
GREL
196
བཔཔའ
1030
(201
( 57 )
APPENDIX II
GRAPHS SHEWING AVERAGE & MAXIMUM Daily ONSUMPTION OF WATER ON THE ISLAND SIN KOWLOON & COMBINED MINIMUM
IRESOURCES FROM 1922 TO 1947
YCARA 1940 TO 1948 EXCEPTED
ISLAND SMEWN THUS:
KOWADON SHEWN THÚS:—
COMBINED SHEWN THUS -
MAX MAX
AVERAGE
AVERAGE
MINIMUM COMBINED RESOURCES SHEWN THỤS!—
FIGURES SHEWN THE NUMBER OF DAYS FULL SUPPLY EACH YEAR
(CURVES OF MAXCONSUMPTIONARE DASED ON PERIODS OF 7 CONSECUTIVE DAYS
COMBINE|
1992
EYE
(+)
R
Scar
COMBINED AVERAGE,
MILANÝ maximum
Kewbook MAXIMUM
NÁVERACI
DIGI
JOST
1937
*CAL
971
1934
1940
AVERA
1961
345
2761
TË
+943
1944
1945
LIGI
14
03
17
10
50
10
10
10
2
2
9
6
2
GE
Y
!