(11)
625
SIR,
HONGKONG, 28th September, 1895.
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 1914 of the 20th instant, and to inform you, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, that it was the subject of discussion at a meeting of the Public Office Committee held on the 24th instant.
2. The Committee were unanimous in the opinion that it could not accept any responsibility whatever in connection with the references to its proceedings that have appeared in the public press, and that they would not for a moment think of adopting the local press as a medium of communicating its proceedings to His Excellency the Governor.
I am further to add that the Committee expressed itself very strongly on the necessity of members abstaining from disclosing any of its proceedings in future.
3. In reply to the questions asked in paragraphs 3 and 4 I enclose an extract from the proceedings.
4. As regards the financial side of the question, the Committee are of opinion that it is premature to advise on any definite course pending the receipt of plans and estimates and further information as to the probable annual expenditure to be met and the balances available for such a purpose from current revenue.
5. The Committee were, however, unanimously of opinion that it was undesir- able to dispose of the existing Government buildings and sites at present, and that such a course should be avoided pending the completion of the new buildings, if possible.
6. It will be observed from the enclosed extract of the proceedings that the majority of the Committee are in favour of a competition and that the rules and regulations affecting such competition should be prepared by the Director of Public Works for the consideration of the Committee.
7. On receipt of such draft rules and regulations the Committee hope to be able to report on its proceedings as a whole at an early date.
I have the honour to be,
Honourable COLONIAL SECRETARY,
&c.,
&C.,
&c.
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
J. G. T. BUCKLE,
Secretary.
Note.-Mr. MCCONACHIE suggested that the words "in future" in the second half of the second paragraph of the Secretary's letter of the 28th September should be omitted, as they might imply that the Com- mittee had disclosed its proceedings in the past. The majority of the Committee approved the draft with the words included.