(8)
14. The Public Works Stores are so intimately connected with the Public Works Offices that we have considered the condition of and accommodation afforded by the present buildings and yards.
At present the stores are located in three separate buildings, viz., Crosby Store, No. 3A, Blue Buildings, and Wanchai Store.
Crosby Store was originally purchased by the Military in 1857 and sold by them to the Colonial Government for $35,000. The portion facing Queen's Road was, until recently, occupied by the Education Department, but owing to its dilapidated condition had to be vacated in 1894 and offices are now rented elsewhere for this department.
The remaining portions of the building are still used as Public Works Stores, but their dilapidated condition admits of their being used only to a very limited extent.
The Store at Blue Buildings consists of the upper floor of House No. 3A, Praya East and is rented from the Land Investment Company.
The Store at Wanchai is very limited in area and its construction is only of a temporary nature. It occupies a reclamation in front of Marine Lots 117 and 118 Praya East.
We are of opinion that the present stores should be vacated and the whole of the stores located as far as practicable on the same premises. The area required is about 40,000 sq. ft.
15. In view of the foregoing facts we recommend :-
(a) That the present Government Offices at St. John's Place be retained, upper floor being devoted as at present for the purposes of the Council Chamber, the Colonial Secretary's Department and the Local Auditor, and the ground floor placed at the disposal of the Sanitary Board and the Education Department.
(b) That new buildings be erected on the Government Reclamation in front of the City Hall for the various departments enumerated in the proposed particulars and conditions of competition. (Appendix B.)
(c) That the Harbour Department be accommodated in a suitable building to be erected on the new Reclamation in front of the present Harbour Office.
(d) That suitable premises be obtained for the purposes of a Public Works Store.
FINANCIAL.
16. The estimated cost of providing suitable accommodation for the Court House, Registrar General, Treasury, Post Office, and Public Works Department on the Reclamation in front of the City Hall is $700,000.
The estimated cost of providing a suitable building for the Harbour Department on the Reclamation in front of the present Harbour Office is ...
(9)
404
In respect of Offices rented for the use of various departments, which would in that case be no longer required, the following rents are paid per annum:--
Attorney General and Crown Solicitor, $1,800
Education Department, 540
Sanitary Board, 1,080
Post Office Clerk, 360
Public Works Store, 840
Total, $4,620
Capitalizing this sum at 5 per cent, and adding the amount to the $250,000 the estimated net expenditure is $900,000.
Less, $342,400
Total, $557,600 cr, say, $560,000.
18. In view of the Colonial Secretary's letter No. 1127 of the 16th July, 1896, enclosing an extract from a despatch from the Secretary of State, (Appendix C.), we have further considered the question of the financial ability of the Colony to meet the proposed expenditure. Owing to the various demands continually made on the ordinary revenue to meet expenditure on Extraordinary Public Works rendered necessary by the increasing trade and population of the Colony, we are of opinion that a special fund should be formed to meet the expenditure on the New Government Offices, and offer the following observations with regard to the formation of such a fund.
It is to be observed that consequent on the progress of the Reclamation Works very valuable building sites, other than those previously referred to, accrue to the Government, and the proceeds derived from the sale of such sites may fairly be considered extraordinary revenue as distinct from ordinary revenue, and be devoted to meet expenditure of an extraordinary nature. We are informed by the Colonial Treasurer that, generally speaking, the financial position of the Colony may be considered satisfactory and that it may reasonably be anticipated that the ordinary revenue will be sufficient to meet ordinary expenditure from year to year.
We would therefore suggest that the premia derived from the sale of land on the Reclamation should be devoted to the purpose of forming a special fund to meet the expenditure on new Government Offices, leaving the annual Crown Rent and assessed taxes to be carried to the ordinary revenue.
The sites on the Reclamation to which we refer are Marine Lot 278, the site north of Marine Lot 276, the site opposite Marine Lot 63, and that opposite the Sailors' Home, and it is estimated that they will realise at public auction during the next few years from $570,000 to $600,000.
The estimated cost of obtaining suitable premises for a Public Works Store is $110,000.
The estimated cost is $90,000.
Total, $900,000.
We have the honour to be,
Your Excellency's
Most obedient Servants,
F. A. COOPER, Chairman.
I agree with the report with the exception of the last two paragraphs. I see no necessity for a special fund.
A. M. THOMSON.
C. P. CHATER.
A. MCCONACHIE.
17. If the foregoing recommendations are carried out, the site occupied by the Court House and Crosby Store will be available for sale and should realise, say, $250,000.
Hongkong, 23rd November, 1896.
T. JACKSON,
(8)
14. The Public Works Stores are so intimately connected with the Public Works Offices that we have considered the condition of and accommodation afforded by the present buildings and yards.
At present the stores are located in three separate buildings, viz., Crosby Store, No. 3A, Blue Buildings, and Wanchai Store.
Crosby Store was originally purchased by the Military in 1857 and sold by them to the Colonial Government for $35,000. The portion facing Queen's Roul was, until recently, occupied by the Education Department, but owing to its dilapid- ated condition had to be vacated in 1894 and offices are now rented elsewhere for this department.
The remaining portions of the building are still used as Public Works Stores, but their dilapidated condition admits of their being used only to a very limited
extent.
The Store at Blue Buildings consists of the upper floor of House No. 3A, Praya East and is rented from the Land Investment Company.
The Store at Wanchai is very limited in area and its construction is only of a temporary nature. It occupies a reclamation in front of Marine Lots 117 and 118 Praya East.
We are of opinion that the present stores should be vacated and the whole of the stores located as far as practicable on the same premises. The area required is about 40,000 sq. ft.
15. In view of the foregoing facts we recommend :-
the
(a) That the present Government Offices at St. John's Place be retained, upper Hoor being devoted as at present for the purposes of“ the Conneil Chamber, the Colonial Secretary's Department and the Local Auditor, and the ground floor placed at the disposal of the Sanitary Board and the Education Department.
(b) That new buildings be erected on the Government Reclamation in front of the City Hall for the various departments enumerated in the proposed particulars and conditions of competition. (Ap- pendix B.)
(c) That the Harbour Department be accommodated in a suitable build- ing to be erected on the new Reclamation in front of the present Harbour Office.
(d) That suitable premises be obtained for the purposes of a Public
Works Store.
FINANCIAL.
16. The estimated cost of providing suitable accommodation for the Court House, Registrar General, Treasury, Post Office, and Public Works Department on the Reclamation in front of the City Hull is
..$700,000
The estimated cost of providing a suitable building for the Harbour Department on the Reclamation in front of the present Harbour Office is
(9)
404
In respect of Offices rented for the use of various departments, which would in that case be no longer required, the following rents are paid per annum:--
Attorney General and Crown Solicitor,.....
Education Department,
Sanitary Board,
Post Office Clerk,
Public Works Store,
.$1,800
540
1,080
360
840
Total,.....
$4,620
Capitalizing this sum at 5 per cent, and adding the amount to the $250,000 the estimated pett expenditure is
.$900,000.
Less,
Total,.
342,400
............
$557,600
cr, say, $560,000.
18. In view of the Colonial Secretary's letter No. 1127 of the 16th July, 1896, enclosing an extract from a despatch from the Secretary of State, (Appendix C.), we have further considered the question of the financial ability of the Colony to meet the proposed expenditure. Owing to the various demands continually made on the ordinary revenue to meet expenditure on Extraordinary Public Works rendered necessary by the increasing trade and population of the Colony, we are of opinion that a special fund should be formed to meet the expenditure on the New Government Offices, and offer the following observations with regard to the formation of such a fund.
It is to be observed that consequent on the progress of the Reclamation Works very valuable building sites, other than those previously referred to, accrue to the Government, and the proceeds derived from the sale of such sites may fairly be considered extraordinary revenue as distinct from ordinary revenue, and be devoted to meet expenditure of an extraordinary nature. We are informed by the Colonial Treasurer that, generally speaking, the financial position of the Colony may be considered satisfactory and that it may reasonably be anticipated that the ordinary revenue will be sufficient to meet ordinary expenditure from year to year.
We would therefore suggest that the premia derived from the sale of land on the Reclamation should be devoted to the purpose of forming a special fund to meet the expenditure ou new Government Offices, leaving the annual Crown Rent and assessed taxes to be carried to the ordinary revenue.
The sites on the Reclamation to which we refer are Mariue Lot 278, the site north of Marine Lot 276, the site opposite Marine Lot 63, and that opposite the Sailors' Home, and it is estimated that they will realise at public auction during the next few years from $570,000 to $600,000.
110,000
I
The estimated cost of obtaining suitable premises for a Public
Works Store is
90,000
Total,..............
.$900,000
We have the honour to be,
Your Excellency's
Most obedient Servants,
F. A. COOPER, Chairman.
agree with the report with the exception of】
the last two paragraphs. I see no necessity A. M. THOMSON. for a special fund.
C. P. CHATER.
A. MCCONACHIE.
17. If the foregoing recommendations are carried out, the site occupied by the Court Honse and Crosby Store will be available for sale and should realize, say, $250,000.
Hongkong, 23rd November, 1896.
T. JACKSON,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.