Issue 7

Mr R. J. Ashby: I have for some time been Chairman of the Joint Committee that deals with the Higher National Diploma and Higher National Certificate in civil engineering. I have also been Chairman of the London and Home Counties Advisory Council Committee for Civil Engineering; this is the body that reviews applications from colleges to run courses, and we have to ensure that there is no overlap and that demand is sufficient. I have also been Chairman of Committee B4.

Mr S. A. Webb-Johnson (Hong Kong Government Office): I do not think that I need to introduce Hong Kong to an audience such as this. British engineers are well aware of the opportunities that Hong Kong offers and will continue to offer. It has been described, quite rightly, as perhaps the most varied and busy construction site in the world. The impressive project that has been introduced to us tonight is one of very many that are being undertaken in the Colony. Recently, considerable publicity has surrounded the mass transit railway system, in which British contractors and suppliers achieved something like 25 % of the total value, completed on time and within budget. Another well-publicised project is the very large power station that will, before long, also be supplying power to China.

The design of a large-scale hospital structure which was directed towards rapid systems of construction is discussed. Rationalisation of the building is emphasised. A reinforced concrete flat plate structure provided a lowcost solution with a speed of erection comparable with all-precast systems. It incorporated precast storey-height, pin-ended columns; prefabricated slab reinforcement; and diamond-cored holes for services. Structural steel shearheads were used for shear reinforcement; their design and the results of two full-scale load tests for the corner column case, are summarised. J.G. Roddick and F.C. Smith

‘What Manchester does today. . . ’ Readers will realise that the contribution that follows was not written by a Londoner. Naturally, it comes from someone in the Manchester area-in fact, from Mr E. H. F. Taylor who gave a splendid Chairman's Address to the Lancashire and Cheshire Branch of the Institution on 16 October 1980. Regrettably, we have had to shorten it: ‘What Manchester does today, London does tomorrow’ is a quotation engraved at birth on the hearts of all Mancunians, or at least, I think, on the hearts of my contemporary Mancunians. Who said it? Is it true? Was it ever true? Is it wishful thinking? Some time ago I decided to investigate. Verulam