of Major General Glach's letter no 18 of the 18th March 1898 that the estimates should be prepared locally, the Architects have been requested not to take out the quantities, which strata will be seen in Hongkong. Hence they have not - with the exception of ironwork - worked their design out in full detail. Bay informed me however that in getting out the drawings they found it necessary to go carefully into the question of ironwork & to make details of instructions to be given during the construction, & as this has been done they have asked permission to furnish the details, & as their request has been approved, I will transmit them to you. They will be of assistance to the P.W. Dept in making the Estimates for the new buildings.
Messrs Wall & Kell have not thought it necessary pending the approval of the designs by your Gov't, to get out the whole of the details of the buildings. They state however that they have sufficient information to prepare the external architectural details & immediately on receipt of information that the designs have been adopted by the Colonial gov't I will cause them to proceed with this work.