BUILDINGS (10)
Continuation.
"Another important addition to the offices of the city, which completes the block known as Prince's Buildings, is ready for occupation.
"It is built for Sir Paul Chater and Mr. H. N. Mody by the Kang On firm of contractors, from designs by Messrs. Leigh and Orange, architects who were also entrusted with the carrying out of the earlier part of the work.
"The new premises consist of four floors, covering a block, 115 feet by 75 feet, abutting on the garden in front of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank and having entrances from Des Voeux Road. The ground floor is fitted up with polished teak counters and screens for the occupation of the Russo Chinese Bank, with light and airy vaults beneath containing a strong room with fire and burglar-proof door. The door next to the westward, in Des Voeux Road gives access to the electric lift and stairs which serve the upper floors. Of these, the first floor is let to Messrs. Deacon, Looker and Deacon, the second floor to Messrs. Leigh and Orange, The French Consulate, and Mr. B. Layton.
"All the servants' rooms are finished in cement and have concrete and steel floors, for fire resistance and cleanliness. The verandahs are constructed in the same way and laid out with local marble. The main building floors are carried on steel girders, and iron columns, about 200 tons of metal being imported for the purpose.
"The whole building is lighted by electric light, and water is pumped from a private well to maintain the lavatory supply in times of shortage.
"The whole of the floors are of polished teak except where English tiles are laid on the ground floor and lavatories.
In its same issue the paper describes the next of the handsome new premises of thirty-one years ago:-
"Another large block designed and carried out by the same architects for the Hongkong Land Investment and Agency Co. Ltd., is that called St. George's Building at the corner of Ice House Street and Connaught Road, opposite the Star Ferry Wharf, this is let to Messrs. Blackhead and Company, ground floor; Messrs. Shewan Tomes and Company 1st and 2nd floors, and Messrs. Gibb Livingston and Co., third floor. It covers a plot 160 feet by 75 feet with roads and verandahs on three sides. The floors here are carried on girders and columns, using about 250 tons of steel and iron, while granite, and Canton red brick are employed in the halls and piers.
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