HONGKONG,
PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISION OF BUILDING WORKS.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.
683
No. 34
1901
HONGKONG, 6th September, 1901.
To the Honourable
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
SIR,-In accordance with your letter No. 2171 dated 29th August, 1901, to Messrs. LEIGH & ORANGE, a meeting was held yesterday of the undersigned Civil Engineers, Architects and Surveyors, who represent the Firms who have been in practice for the longest period in the Colony.
It was resolved to thank you for the opportunity given to express our ideas on the subjects mentioned in Messrs. LEIGH & ORANGE's letter to you of 19th August.
It was felt that the question of design and supervision of buildings was by far the most urgent and that we could defer the deliberation on plans for new houses until we had received copy of the Honourable the Acting Director of Public Works' Plan of Improved Chinese Dwellings, dated August 1st, 1901, which we would be glad to receive at your carly convenience.
We trust you will not think we are going beyond our province in discussing questions which you had not expressly referred to us, but the seriousness and urgency of the matter is our excuse.
We beg to suggest that this question of professional practice and supervision of works might be dealt with speedily by the making of a special short Ordinance, and we trust the following (our unanimous opinion) may be of some assistance.
Suggestions.
1. Only qualified Civil Engineers, Architects and Surveyors to be allowed to practise in the Colony, and plans from only such persons to be accepted by the Government under the Building and
Public Health Ordinances.
2. All building operations must be carried out under the supervision of a qualified Civil Engineer, Architect or Surveyor.
3. The Civil Engineer, Architect or Surveyor to have the power to employ, at the expense of the owner, such supervision as he may consider necessary.
4. The following persons to be admitted as qualified to practise, viz. :—
(a.) Members or Associate Members of the Institution of Civil Engineers, England.
(b.) Fellows or Associates of the Royal Institution of British Architects.
(c.) Any person who has carried on the profession of Civil Engineer, Architect or Surveyor
for 10 years continuously in the Colouy.
(d.) Any other persons who shall satisfy a Board (such as the Public Works Committee)
that they are properly qualified to practise.
For suggestion 1
Reasons.
The numerous accidents and collapses of buildings that have taken place in recent years. Plans are now prepared by a number of so-called Architects, etc., and who, in our opinion, have not the qualifications nor the knowledge necessary to design and carry out work.
It is not unusual to see buildings being constructed with an utter disregard of stability and strength of materials.
We beg to draw attention to the Enquiry on the Cochrane Street disaster, where plans for an additional storey were admittedly prepared without the necessary precautions.