No. 111.
Enclosure.
HONGKONG.
487
No. 31
PAPERS ON THE QUESTION OF PROVIDING NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
SIR,
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.
(Despatch from the Governor to the Secretary of State.)
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 28th April, 1896.
With reference to paragraph 13 of my despatch No. 201 of the 4th September, 1894, I have the honour to inform you that in that month I appointed a Committee, consisting of two Officials (the Director of Public Works and Treasurer), and three Unofficial Members (Mr. CHATER, Mr. JACKSON and Mr. MCCONACHIE), to consider and report on the question of providing new Government Offices and the advis- ability of concentrating them under one roof. The Committee has advised that two blocks of buildings should be erected on the Praya Reclamation comprising new offices for the Treasury, Public Works, Post Office and Registrar General's departments, and the Supreme Court and the offices connected with it, but that the Colonial Secretary's Office should be allowed to remain as at present.
2. A majority of the Committee being in favour of inviting competitive designs for the proposed new offices, I directed the Director of Public Works to draw up particulars and conditions of competition of which, as amended and finally approved by the Committee, I enclose copies for your consideration.
3. The Committee also considered at my request the financial aspect of the proposal, and expressed its opinion that, in view of the Acting Colonial Treasurer's confident anticipation that the ordinary expenditure of the current year will be largely exceeded by the Revenue, and that the surplus of revenue over expenditure is likely to be continued in future years, there is no necessity, at least for the present, to make any special arrangements for providing the funds required to meet the estimated cost of the works, viz., $700,000. The value of the present buildings, which it is proposed to replace, with the land on which they stand, is estimated at $250,000; the total nett cost to the Government of the new buildings would therefore be about $450,000, and as the expenditure of this sum would be spread over five years, the time within which it is calculated that the work could be com- pleted, I see no reason to doubt that the ordinary revenue of the Colony would be able to bear the burden.
4. If the scheme meets with your approval which, as the work is of pressing necessity, I earnestly hope will not be withheld, I propose to publish the conditions of competition in Shanghai and Singapore as well as locally, in order that the architects resident in those places may compete if they desire to do so.
5. I shall be glad if you will convey to me your decision in this matter at an early date, and if convenient by telegraph.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient,
humble Servant,
WILLIAM ROBINSON.
The Right Honourable
Mr. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies,
&c.,
&c.,
fc., Downing Street, London.