Enclosure 85 4602
RECO
RES 13 FEB OC
Statement regarding the circumstances under which "Beaconsfield" was rented by the Government of Hong Kong.
For some years past the accommodation provided by the Government Buildings has been inadequate to meet the requirements of the various departments. Thus, in 1874, when negotiations for the leasing of "Beaconsfield" were begun, the Sanitary Department, the Education Department, the Crown Solicitor and the Attorney General were all quartered in various offices throughout the City, for which rent was paid.
The two last named had been displaced from the ground floor of the Supreme Court Building to admit of extension of the Post Office, whilst the Registrar General's Department, which occupied the remaining portion of the ground floor of the building mentioned, was in a very over-crowded condition.
The Sanitary Department, which had been recently largely increased, was also much in need of additional accommodation.
"Beaconsfield" is a large commodious building, situated in close proximity to the Government offices proper, and, when it was offered to the Government it appeared that some desirable re-arrangement and concentration of offices could be effected by taking it.
After