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SUNDAY, JULY 7, 1935
FROM COURTHOUSE TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
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FROM OCTOBER THIS YEAR, HONG KONG'S VENERABLE AND HISTORIC SUPREME COURT BUILDING IN THE HEART OF CENTRAL WILL BECOME A BEEHIVE OF ACTIVITY -- NOT FOR DELIBERATIONS OF THE COURT, BUT FOR DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES ON LEGISLATIVE MATTERS.
SINCE THE JUDICIARY VACATED THE 73-YEAR-OLD BUILDING IN JULY 1984 TO MOVE TO ITS NEW HEADQUARTERS ON QUEENSWAY, THE OLD COURT HOUSE HAS BEEN UNDERGOING INTERNAL REMODELLING TO SUIT THE NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE MODERN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
+ THE MOVE OF THE COUNCIL CHAMBER FROM ITS PRESENT LOCATION IN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES WILL PHYSICALLY SEPARATE THE LEGISLATURE FROM THE EXECUTIVE AND ENHANCE THE STANDING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN THE COMMUNITY IN A MORE PUBLIC VENUE,+ A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE COURT HAS SEVERAL LARGE ROOMS AND IS IDEALLY SUITED FOR USE AS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HE ADDED.
THE BUILDING WILL ALSO HOUSE THE OFFICES OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS (UMELCO) AND OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SECTION OF THE SECRETARIAT'S COUNCILS DIVISION.
TWO YEARS AGO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL APPROVED THAT THE BUILDING BE CONVERTED FOR USE AS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER AND FOR ASSOCIATED PURPOSES AFTER DECLARING THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING OF HISTORIC INTEREST.
PRELIMINARY STUDIES BY THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT THE LANDMARK WAS QUITE SOUND IN ITS FOUNDATIONS AND SUPERSTRUCTURE.
THE DEPARTMENT ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE CONVERSION COULD BE CARRIED OUT IN A WAY WHICH WOULD NOT ONLY RETAIN THE CHARACTER OF THE BUILDING BUT WOULD ADAPT IT EFFECTIVELY TO ITS NEW ROLE.
SENIOR ARCHITECT, MR ROGER MATTHEWS, SAID THAT CHANGES ARE NOW BEING MADE BY A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, WHICH WAS AWARDED THE $37.5 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE CONVERSION AND GENERAL FITTING-OUT WORK.
HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR-CONDITIONING, LIFT, ELECTRICAL AND FIRE SERVICES WORKS ARE BEING CARRIED OUT BY SEPARATE SUB- CONTRACTORS.
/A FURTHER
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