1931 Public Works Department Annual Report | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

1931 Public Works Department Annual Report

A copy of the original is available at HKGRO: http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkgro/view/a1931/789.pdf

Excerpts:

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— Q 29 —

PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY.

A summary of the works carried out under this vote is given below.

HONG KONG.

Buildings.

101.    New No. 2 Police Station.—This work was described in paragraph 107 of the Report for 1930 and a further report is given in paragraph 190 of the 1931 report. The work proceeded satisfactorily and was completed on the 2nd May 1932, one day in excess of the Contract time. Certain work additional to the original Contract was executed including the removal of the weighbridge from the Central Police Station Compound to this Station and an increase in the garages temporarily to house the Fire Brigade for Wanchai.

1932 Expenditure .... $108,166.90

Expenditure to 31st Dec., 1932... $372,192.07

102.    Sai Ying Pun—New Market.—.Reference was made to this building in paragraph 191 of the report for 1931. The work proceeded satisfactorily and the market was completed and ready for occupation on the 22nd April.

1932 Expenditure          $113,792.18

Expenditure to 31st Dec., 1932... $251,090.64

103.    Market at Praya East Reclamation.—This work was referred to in paragraph 194 of last year’s Report. The market was satisfactorily completed by the end of May and handed over to the Sanitary Department on 1st June, 1932.

1932 Expenditure                  $16,992.14

Expenditure to 31st Dec., 1932.... $26,942.61

104.    Latrine at Possession Point.—The Contract for the erection of a public trough closet and urinal which amounted to $15,434.20, was let to Messrs. Lam Woo & Co. on 1st March 1932. The work was satisfactorily completed on 30th September, 1932.

Expenditure              .             $10,819.10

 

General Works.

105.    Roads.—Consequent upon the erection of new buildings, kerbing and channelling operations were executed on sixteen roads, etc. Footpaths were paved and any necessary alterations in levels or alignment affected.

Expenditure                          $48,281.69


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- Q 43 — Loan Works.

267. Surrender of the Royal Naval Arsenal Yard and Kellett Island.—An agreement was completed with the Admiralty by which the above properties will be surrendered under certain conditions and upon payment of $2,000,000. A first payment of $500,000 less a proportion to be met from the Praya East Reclamation Fund was made during the year. The balance will be paid during 1932 and 1933.

Expenditure .$263,741.00
 
268. Traffic Arrangement at Tsim Sha Tsui.—This work, which was referred to in paragraph 232 of last year’s Report, was completed in January.
 
1931 Expenditure   $3,327.36
Expenditure to 31st Dec., 1931 $11,042.52
 
269. Additional 100 line Telephone Exchange Switchboard. —This was installed at Kowloon Government Telephone Exchange.
 
Expenditure $458.41
 
LOAN WORKS.
Aberdeen Valley Water Scheme.
 
270. 1931 Expenditure   $624,722.35
Expenditure to 31st Dec., 1931...$1,868,983.12
 
271. Item B-1, Preliminary and Survey Works.—This work was referred to in paragraph 250, Item No. 1 of last year’s Report. A traverse survey 6,000 feet long for the 1st Section of the West Catchwater was put in hand and completed during the year. Other small surveys including one of the site of the Lower Dam was also done.
 
272. Item 2, Upper Dam.—This work was referred to in paragraph 250 of last year’s Report. Fair progress was made with this work and by October the Dam and subsidiary works were completed and general cleaning up in progress. Impounding in the reservoir for supply purposes commenced in July and water was brought into supply on 1st August when the water stood at forty-two feet below overflow. On 15th December His Excellency Sir William Peel K.C.M.G., K.B.E. performed the opening ceremony at a public function attended by members of the Executive and Legislative Councils. The Dam has a total length of 400 lineal feet at Roadway Level a total depth from roadway to bottom of foundations of 138 feet a maximum depth of water of 103 feet and an effective capacity of 175 million gallons. The overflow is formed on the main section of the dam and consists of sixteen arched bays each twelve feet long. The roadway ten feet wide being carried over it in a series of rein-

Loan Works. — Q 44 —

forced concrete arches. On either side of the back of the dam flood water channels have been formed to divert the flood water into the water cushion fifty feet by twenty-five feet formed at the base. On the front or upstream face of the Dam a valve well has been built outside the normal section in which is situated the 18" dia. stand pipe, 18" dia. draw off pipes and 15" draw off stop valves. Surmounting the Valve Well at road level is a Valve House in which is situated the headstocks and control gear for the 18" draw off penstocks and 15" stop valvees. There are four 18" dia, draw offs at 290, 310, 330 and 350 A.O.D. each controlled by an 18" dia. penstock and a 15" stop valve while the 18" washout 270 A.O.D. is controlled by an 18" dia. penstock and an 18" dia. stop valve. From the bottom of the Stand pipe the supply pipe is laid through the dam in the draw off tunnel and carried over the water cushion by means of a reinforced concrete skewed arch bridge of forty-two feet span. The dam has been built with an inner watertight seal of five to one (1-2-3) fine cement concrete varying in thickness from ten feet at the base to a minimum of five feet at the top. The main face is composed of precast six to one concrete smooth faced blocks in 15" courses with levelled edges the joints after being raked out to a depth of three inches were caulked with neat cement. The backing to the seal to a level of 275 A.O.D. was of six to one (1-2-4) cement concrete with displacers, from 275 A.O.D. to 315 A.O.D. seven to one (1-2-4) cement concrete with displacers, from 315 A.O.D. to 365 A.O.D. eight to one (1-3-5) cement concrete with displacers and from overflow level (365 A.O.D.) to road level twelve to one (1-4-8) cement concrete with displacers. The outer facing of the dam is composed of six to one concrete precast rock faced blocks in 15" courses the lowest special courses and steps to water cushion being cast in situ. The roadway ten feet wide over the dam is surfaced with 2" of granolithic and has a precast reinforced concrete open pillastered balustrading on either side divided into panels to suit the overflow arching. The foundation drainage of the dam discharges into the water cushion through a number of pipes near the washout and the hearting concrete is drained by a series of stoneware pipes with outlets on the overflow face. The dam contains approximately 26,400 cubic yards of cement concrete and 16,000 concrete blocks were used for all purposes. The concrete for the dam was proportioned and mixed by a mechanical plant erected at the South end of the dam and was placed by means of a chuteing apparatus fed from an elevator tower 100 feet high. The concrete blocks were manufactured at a blockyard in Aberdeen close to the old Paper Mills and were transported to the site along with the other materials by means of a cableway 1,200 yards long.
 
273. Under the Dam Contract the outfall section of the West Catchwater was constructed and the Wanchai Gap Aberdeen Road diverted. The outfall section of the West Catchwater which is 300 lineal yards in length, draining 184 acres has an

 


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Comments

This work was referred to in paragraph 124 of last year's Report. The large embankment at picket 23/00 was con­solidated by means of watering and rolling and the work of bringing it up to level was completed at the beginning of April.

A contract amounting to $17,186.00 was let to Messrs. Sang Lee & Co. in March for strengthening the Conduit. Progress during the year was poor. The Contract which comprised the construction of a new Conduit from the Tai Tam Tunnel Outlet to Stubbs Road, a distance of 2,273 feet, had been completed by the end of the year. The Conduit is designed to meet heavy traffic requirements, but as far as practicable it has been con­structed, in lighter section, clear of the roadway.

1931 Expenditure.............   ................. $22,037.01

Expenditure to 31st December, 1931    $63,830.97

—This work was referred to in paragraph 144 of last year's Report. The progress with the construction of the reinforced concrete portion of the work was unsatisfactory and was not completed -until the middle of April which was five months in excess of the Contract period. The construction of the steel bridge spanning the space between the concrete structure and the shore was commenced on the completion of the above work and completed at the end of the year.

1931 Expenditure                                     $38,597.22

Expenditure to 31st Dec., 1931            $56,957.00