MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1984
CONVERSION OF OLD SUPREME COURT BUILDING
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WORK WILL START THIS WEEK ON THE CONVERSION OF THE OLD UPREME COURT BUILDING FOR USE AS THE NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
THE BUILDING WILL ALSO HOUSE THE OFFICES OF THE UNOFFICAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS AND OF THE COUNCILS DIVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,
A $37.5 MILLION CONTRACT WAS AWARDED RECENTLY BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO YAU LEE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD. IT WAS SIGNED BY THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT, MR JOSE LEI, AND MR YEUNG WAI OF THE COMPANY.
AFTER CONVERSION, THE FIRST FLOOR WILL BE USED AS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER AND COUNCIL OFFICES, AND THE GROUND AND SECOND FLOORS OF THE THREE-STOREY COURT BUILDING WILL BE OCCUPIED BY UMELCO.
THE CHAMBER WILL HAVE SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION FACILITIES AS WELL AS IMPROVED TELEVISION AND RADIO BROADCASTING SYSTEMS ON THE FIRST FLOOR.
ON THE SAME FLOOR WILL BE A FINANCE COMMITTEE ROOM, TWO CONFERENCE ROOMS FOR UMELCO, AND A PRESS ROOM.
FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED ON THE GROUND FLOOR ARE COMPLAINTS OFFICE ROOMS, THREE INTERVIEW ROOMS, ONE COMPLAINTS WAITING ROOM, ONE COMPLAINTS MEETING ROOM AND A GENERAL OFFICE WITH PRINTING FACILITIES.
THE TOP FLOOR WILL CONTAIN OFFICES FOR UMELCO, A LIBRARY AND A SOCIAL AND DINING AREA FOR OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE BUILDING WAS STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND THE CONVERSION WOULD ADAPT IT EFFECTIVELY TO ITS NEW ROLE WHILE RETAINING ITS UNIQUE ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER.
THE TOTAL USABLE FLOOR AREA OF THE BUILDING IS 5 500 SQUARE METRES. THE SITE WILL BE LANDSCAPED.
CONVERSION WORK WILL TAKE 10 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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