!
33688/03.
417
Bl
Cl
? Say we shall be glad to know the probable
cost in due course.
The Law Courts and the Post Office are approaching com- pletion but I see that the former is now estimated at $768,000 instead of $400,000 and the latter at $872,000 instead of $500,000.
In the former case, I don't think there is
any use making enquiries as to the increase because,
so far as I can ascertain after a search through all the
p.p.
the original estimate does not seem to have been
based on any data but to have been merely a guess,
made apparently a bad one, before designs were prepared.
As to the General Post Office I would ask for
an explanation.
So late as August 1903, after full plans had
been drawn up, the estimated cost of the original build-
ing was "not to exceed $500,000", and the addition of the fourth storey, agreed to at that time was to cost $85,000
The Architects' charges were to be 5%, on a maximum of
$500,000 for the first 3 storeys, and presumably at the
same rate on the fourth storey, i.e. less than $30,000.
There is therefore more than $240,000 to be accounted
for.
The only other large works now going on are the Waterworks, the resumption of insanitary property and the Kowloon roads; these may last any time and cost almost anything. Certainly large sume will be required for the next few years.
The total of this vote shews a reduction of
nearly a quarter of a million on last year.
?
Approve Estimates sanction ordinance refer to the few points above specified and appreciate manner in
which Estimates have been framed.
Estimates and ordinance to Audit Office B/12.
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