CO129-538-3 Development of Government sites and rebuilding of Government buildings 17-12-1931 - 22-10-1932 — Page 34

COPY.

Enclosure No.3.

33

The Commissioners regret that in their report they

made no mention of Government House. They do so now and add

that Mr. Scott Harston before his departure expressed himself as approving of the principle that the present Government

House should be sold and the proceeds applied to build an

up-to-date residence, capable of meeting the demands made

upon it.

2.

Government House lacks in the opinion of the

Commissioners the facilities that the Governor of a Colony of Hong Kong's importance should have at his disposal for the reception of guests on public occasions and for the accommoda-

tion of official guests. Nor is it possible to rebuild on a

larger scale or to add an extension owing to the limited area of the grounds which are now enclosed on all sides.

3.

The Commissioners are not in a position to comment

on the building but they would not be surprised to hear that it

will be necessary to rebuild in the near future and that the

annual expenditure averaged over the last 5 years in maintaining

and reconditioning the fabric is uneconomic. When rebuilding

takes place the Commissioners advise that a new site be chosen, as with present day motor traffic facilities it is no longer

necessary to sacrifice all other amenities for a central

position.

4. Sale of the present site will no doubt provoke

criticism on aesthetic grounds, and the Commissioners agree that

if the Colony's finances permitted, Government House grounds

might well be added to the Botanical Gardens, though otherwise

this portion of the city is adequately supplied with open spaces.

But the Government's building programme in the immediate future

is already formidable. A new Post Office for Kowloon and the

development of the Beaconsfield Arcade property cannot be

postponed much further. The new Gaol and the new Government Civil Hospital are overdue. The latter can be financed by

short term loans which could be redeemed in a large measure by

disposal