XN000022-1974-03-27 — Page 42

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Wednesday, March 27, 1974

REVISED PLAN FOR DEVELOPING MURRAY HOUSE SITE

A revised plan for the development of a large car park, government

offices and the new Supreme Court on the present site of Murray House,

is expected to be submitted shortly to the Public Works Sub-Committee.

The Secretary for the Environment, the Hon. James Robson today

told Legislative Council that for the development of the complex, Murray

House must "either be incorporated in the design of the proposed complex,

dismantled and re-erected elsewhere, or demolished."

He was replying to a question from the Hon. Woo Pak-chuen on

whether government has any plans for the future of Murray House.

Mr. Robson explained that due to the attractive form and details

of the building, considerable thought had been given to its preservation,

"If the building is to be preserved', he said, "the sensible

course of action would be to dismantle and re-establish it with suitable

reinforcement on another site."

But the cost involved in the rebuilding process would amount to

some $6.5 million, and any reasonable central site capable of accommodating

Murray House would have a value of at least $40 to $50 million.

With regard to an open space site, the Secretary for the

Environment said "the Urban Council has advised Government that it

should not support such a proposal as it would mean alienating open space

already in short supply in the. urban area."

/In addition, ................