CO129-533-4 Hong Kong Water Supply Scheme 28-1-1931 - 20-1-1932 — Page 26

Consulting Engineers the terms of payment, etc. being

usually embodied in a letter, and we see no reason for

departing from our usual practice in this case.

7.

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We fear that considerable delay would arise if

the Consulting Engineers are to obtain the approval of the

Colonial Government before engaging staff, as suggested in

paragraph 11 of enclosure No. 3 of the Governor's despatch

of the 5th November. We usually engage all the staff

required on the recommendation of the Consulting Engineers

when the work is commenced. Additional staff required

during the progress of the work would be indented for by the

Resident Engineer through the Colonial Government and the

indents would be dealt with by ourselves in the normal way.

8. In amplification of the preceding paragraph we

should like to refer to the methods which have been found

satisfactory in a number of Colonies when works of magnitude

have been carried out departmentally under the supervision

of Consulting Engineers. Local control rests with the

Resident Engineer who is selected by and is responsible in

all technical matters to the Consulting Engineers. This

officer would enter into an agreement with ourselves on

behalf of the Colonial Government to serve the Government

for such a period and on such terms as may be arranged. is, for all purposes of discipline and account, the servant

of the Colonial Government, to whom he looks for instructions

on any matters apart from the technical conduct of the work.

For technical matters he acts under the sole instructions

of the Consulting Engineers, who are fully responsible for

the efficient and economical execution of the works.

Similarly, the Resident Engineer's staff are engaged by ourselves and their salaries, passages, etc., as well as that of the Resident Engineer, are payable by the Colonial

Government.

He

3.

We/