472
reminded how the people treated Mr. 'Lau Wai- ohuen, who during the plague was president of the hospital; one co-operated with the foreigners in fighting the plague, and the people stoned him.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
competitions, prepared by the Director of Public Works, were recommended by the Committee.
On the 16th July, 1896, the Colonial Secretary forwarded to the Committee the extract from the Secretary of State's despatch of the 5th June, 1896, in which Mr. Chamberlain desired to receive further information as to the necessity fo the buildings and to be more fully satisfied as to the financial ability of the colony to meet the expenditure out of current revenue. The portion of the despatch in which Mr. Chamber- Ho Chak-sang-I concur with Fung Wa-lain disapproved of the proposal to invite com- chuen's opinion.
petitive designs does not appear to have been communicated to the Committee.
Fung Wa-chuen-The kaifong people have been sent for and it is their own fault that they do not come, and they are quite unreasonable to raise any complaints if the doctor is appointed to-day. His Excellency wants the doctor to be appointed. We cannot say no.
Fang Wa-chuen-I think the reason why the kaifong people failed to come to-day is that His Excellency said 'that if any one was found to stir up trouble he would be severely dealt with. Fang Wa-chuon remarked that if they were afraid the, kaifong people would raise com- plaints they should go to see Mr. Lockhart to day and ask him to issue a notice to let the people know that the doctor must be appointed. Ho Chak-sang thought Mr. Lockhart would not issue such a notice.
There was no further discussion and it was agreed to hold another mesting next week and meanwhile to ascertain the opinion of the kaifong people.
DEATH OF THE GÒVERNOR- GENERAL OF INDO- CHINA.
We regret to announce the death of M. Armand Rousseau, the Governor-General of Indo-China. The French Consul in Hongkong received the news by telegram, which stated that the death took place at 10 a.m. on the 10th inst., the cause being an affection of the liver, from which M. Rousseau had suffered for some considerable time. M. Rousseau was appointed Governor-General on the 1st January, 1895.
(0)
(a)
[December 17, 1896.
Hall for the
arious
on
pre
be obtained for
the purposes of a Publio Works Stor
PINA
The estimated cost of providing suitable so- commodation for the Court House, Regi General, Treasury, Post Office, Works Department on the Reclamat of the City Hall is.
The report is dated the 23rd November, 1896, and is signed by the Hon. F. A. Cooper (Chair man), Hon. A. M. Thomson, Hon. C. P. Chater, Mr. A. McConachie, and Mr. T. Jackson, The first part of the report narrates the Committee's proceedings, and in the second part a description is given of the condition of the present Govern. ment Offices. The remainder of the report is as follows:
THE DESIRABILITY OF LOCATING THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
UNDER ONE ROOF,
is
It is desirable for many reasons that the several Government Offices should be situated close together, if possible under one roof, as loss of time and inconvenience to the public would be thereby obviated, and business greatly facilitated.
Were it not for the fact that the present offices at St. John's Place are in a good struc- tural condition, are suitably and conveniently situated for the meeting of Council, and the accommodation afforded for the Colonial Secre- tary's Department appears adequate, we should recommend that in any project for the erection of new buildings accommodation should be pro- vided for that department.
The following statement shows the approxi- mate accommodation at present provided, and what appears to be required for the Court THE NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICES. House, Treasury, Registrar-General, Post
Office and Public Works
THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
In September, 1894, a Committee was ap- pointed by H.E. the Governor to consider the question of new Government Offices. On the 20th September, 1895, the Colonial Secretary addressed the Secretary to the Committee in- quiring when the report might be expected, and also, in view of recent statements in the Press, whether the Committee was in favour of the plans being prepared by the Director of Public Works or of inviting public competition and awarding a premium for the most suitable plans and designs.
The Secretary's reply is dated the 28th September, 1895, and the second paragraph was as follows:-
?
"
Court House Registrar-General Treasury Post Office
Public Works
Present. Required. |
sq. ft.
Bq. ft. 12,300 21,000 2,460 5,000 3,100 6,000 5,000 11,000 7,000 14,000
The Public Works Stores are so intimately connected with the Public Works Offices that we have considered the condition of and accom- modation afforded by the present buildings and yards.
At present the stores are located in three separate buildings, viz., Crosby Store, No. 3a, Blue Buildings, and Wanchai Store.
Crosby Store was originally purchased by the Military in 1857 and sold by them to the Colonial Government for $35,000. The portion facing Queen's Road was, until recently, oc- cupied by the Education Department, but owing to its dilapidated condition had to be racated in 1894 and offices are now rented else where for this department.
still used as Public Works Stores, but their The remaining portions of the building are dilapidated condition admits of their being used only to a very limited extent.
The Store at Blue Buildings consists of the upper floor of House No. 3a, Praya East, and is rented from the Land Investment Company.
and its construction is only of a temporary The Store at Wanchai is very limited in area nature. It occupies a reclamation in front of Marine Lots 117 and 118 Praya East.
"The Committee were unanimous in the opinion that it could not accept any responsibi- lity 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."
An extract from the Committee's minutes was enclosed, from which it appears that at a meeting held on the 24th September, 1895, the Hon. C. P. Chater moved, and Mr. A. McConachie seconded, "That this Committee is in favour of inviting public competition and awarding a premium for the most suitable plans and designs for the proposed new Govern- ment Buildings." The Chairman (the Director of Public Works) moved as an amendment "That this Committee is in favour of the plans, etc., being prepared by the Director of Public Works and of such plans being submitted to amend :- competent authority at home for approval and amendment, if necessary." This amendment not being seconded, Mr. Chater's motion was put and agreed to by a majority of three, the Chairman and the Acting Treasurer not voting. It was also decided that the premis to be offered shout be $2,000, $1,000, and $500 for the first, second, and third best designs respectively.
13
His Excellency approved of the premis suggested, and particulars and conditions of the
We are of opinion that the present stores should be vacated and the whole of the stores located as far as practicable on the same pre- mises. The area required is about 40,000 sq. ft. In view of the foregoing facts we recom-
The estimated cost of providing a
suitable building for the Harbour De partment on the Reclamation in front of the present Harbour Office is ...... able premises for a Publio Work Store
The estimated cost of obtaining suit-
་་་
Total:..
$700,000
$110,000
90,000
$900,000
If the foregoing recommendations are carried out, the site occupied by the Court House and Crosby Store will be available for sale and should realize, say, $250.000.
In respect of Offices rented for the use of various departments, which would in that case be no longer required, the following rents are paid per annum.“ Attorney-General and Crown Solicitor $1,800 Education Department ... Sanitary Board
Post Office Clerk... Public Works Store ...
!
540 1,080
360
840
$4,620
Total Capitalizing this sum at 5 per cent, and ad the amount to the $250,000 the estimated nett expenditure is
Less
Total...
or, say, $560,000.
,000 342,400
$557,600
In view of the Colonial Secretary's, letter No. 1,127 of the 16th July, 1896, enclosing an extract from à despatch from the Secretary of State (Appendix C.), we have further con- sidered the question of the financial ability of the colony to meet the proposed expenditure Owing to the various demands continually made on the ordinary revenue to meet expenditure on Extraordinary Public Works rendered neces- sary by the increasing trade and population of the colony, we are of opinion that a special fund should be formed to meet the expenditure on the new Government Offices, and offer the following observations with regard to the formation of such a fund.
It is to be observed that consequent
the
venue
progress of the Reclamation. Works very valu- able building sites, other than those previously referred to, accrue to the Government, and the proceeds derived from the sale of such sites may fairly be considered extraordinary as distinct from ordinary revenue, and voted to meet expenditure of an ext nature. We are informed by the Colonial Treasurer that, generally speaking, the financial position of the colony may be considere factory and that it may reasonably be antici pated that the ordinary revenue will be suff cient to meet ordinary expenditure from yea to year.
derived from the sale of lan
satis
We would therefore suggest that the prem
on the the purpose
tion should be devoted ing a special fund to meet the new Government. Offo
Crown rent and assessed taxe the ordinary revenue,
ite
The sites on the Reclatio are Marine Lot 278, the site Lot 276, the site opp that opposite the estimated that auction during $570,000 to $600,000
In
(a) That the present Government Offices at St. John's Place be retained, the upper floor being devoted as at present for the purposes of the Council Chamber, the Colonial Secretary's Department, and the Local Auditor, and the ground floor placed at the disposal of the Sanitary Board and the Education Department. (b) That now buildings be erected on the
Government Reclamation in front of the special fund
to: