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Ordinance, and the technical members of the Authorised Architects Committee will be consulted on proposed amendments in the Ordinance. It is not considered desirable to confine the list of authorised architects to persons who hold the certificate of A.R.I.B.A. No such provision exists in England. In view of the importance of safe- guarding the public against dangers to life and health the Government must demur to the use of the word 'fantastic' with reference to the requirements of the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services and the Head of the Fire Brigade.
It is doubtful if Government rules and regulations could eradicate the system of sub- contracting.
Paragraph 20.-The two offices are so considered. The title Architect has been substituted for that of Engineer.
Paragraphs 21-22. The General Works Office will be abolished, though the arrangements for the transference of its work amongst the Architectural, Drainage and Roads Offices will take a short time to complete.
The question of reductions in the staff at present allotted to the General Works Office cannot be decided until experience of a few months has shown how the Roads and Drainage Offices can deal with the extra work that will be thrown on to them. It is however anticipated that no large reductions will be possible, for whilst Government is not itself embarking on an extensive constructional programme, there is considerable building development going on especially on the mainland, which involves the provision of drains and drainage systems, and improved streets and roads. It is on account of this rapid development that the Government does not feel able to agree to the amalgamation at present of the Roads and Drainage Offices which deal with very specialized spheres of work.
Paragraph 23. On the island there are 77 Government motor vehicles, exclusive of motor cycles, and on the mainland 47. The matter has been gone into very care- fully, and the solution which appears to Government to be the most economical is to concentrate the repair of all Hong Kong vehicles at the Wanchai workshop, and all Kowloon vehicles at the Hunghom workshop. The Manager, Railway, states that for the railway to undertake major repairs of all vehicles he would require an additional European mechanic, while, as the Commissioners realize, a workshop for minor repairs would still be necessary on the Hong Kong side. The transport of motor vehicles, especially such heavy vehicles as road rollers, from Hong Kong to Kowloon would be expensive and unsatisfactory. The advantages of the present system in the daily super- vision and adjustment of Government vehicles seem to have been inadequately appreciated by the Commissioners. It is proposed to retrench the post of European Workshop Mechanic at the Wanchai shop, but it is considered necessary to retain the post of Mechanical Engineer. It may ultimately be found that the best solution will be to place the workshops, so far as motor vehicles are concerned, on both sides of the harbour under one officer. This possibility is still being investigated, and the whole question should be further considered when the Vehicular Ferry is in existence.
Paragraph 24.-Government does not consider the suggestion to put the Electrical Department under the Postmaster General to be sound. The department deals with many matters outside the sphere of the Postmaster General.
Paragraph 25.-The question of letting out to contract the maintenance of Govern- ment lifts is being explored. It is not considered desirable to dispose of the Government's telephone system.
Paragraph 26.-One qualified officer formerly in Government service has already been appointed for this work on a temporary basis.
Paragraph 27. The method of carrying out large 'extraordinary' works has been dealt with under paragraph 13 above.