XN000022-1975-12-17 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1975

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GOVERNMENT'S OFFICE SPACE NEEDS BEING LOOKED INTO

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THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD, SAID TODAY A STUDY WAS BEING MADE INTO THE MOST EFFECTIVE

METHODS OF MEETING THE GOVERNMENT'S LONG-TERM OFFICE ACCOMMODATION REQUIREMENTS.

HE SAID THE STUDY WAS BEING CONDUCTED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE WITH THE ADVICE OF AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE.

MR. MCDONALD WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION RAISED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE HON. LO TAK-SHING WHO WANTED TO KNOW WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT PLANNED TO REBUILD THE FIRE BRIGADE BUILDING IN CENTRAL, OLD MURRAY BUILDING OR NEW RODNEY BLOCK.

+IT IS NOT UNLIKELY, THE DIRECTOR SAID, THAT SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS ACCOMMODATED IN THE THREE BUILDINGS NAMED MAY IN THE REASONABLY NEAR FUTURE BE MOVED ELSEWHERE TO MEET THEIR OWN OR PUBLIC NEEDS.+

THERE WERE NO PLANS TO REBUILD ON THE FIRE BUILDING SITE, HE SAID, AND THE INTENTION WAS TO RELEASE THE SITE FOR SALE.

+A STUDY IS IN HAND TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTING A MULTI-USER BUILDING ON THE CENTRAL RECLAMATION TO PROVIDE A CENTRAL FIRE STATION TOGETHER WITH ACCOMMODATION FOR OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

+ IT IS INTENDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, THE ONLY OTHER OCCUPANT OF THE FIRE BRIGADE BUILDING, WILL BE ACCOMMODATED EITHER IN A CUSTOM-DESIGNED BUILDING ON THE WANCHAI RECLAMATION OR IN LEASED ACCOMMODATION,

HE ADDED.

THE DIRECTOR NOTED THAT THE SITE OF OLD MURRAY HOUSE WAS PART OF A LARGE SITE EARMARKED FOR A COMPLEX DEVELOPMENT TO ACCOMMODATE GOVERNMENT OFFICES, A PUBLIC CAR PARK AND A NEW SUPREME COURT BUILDING.

+THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH IS STUDYING THE NEED FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IN THIS LOCATION AND COULD CONCEIVABLY ADVISE AGAINST PROCEEDING WITH THE SCHEME AS PLANNED.

+IF SUCH ADVICE IS TENDERED AND ACCEPTED, HE SAID, THE SITE, EITHER WHOLLY OR IN PART, WOULD BE OFFERED FOR SALE.+

ON NEW RODNEY BLOCK, MR. MCDONALD SAID THIS WAS SITUATED IN AN AREA PLANNED FOR PUBLIC OPEN SPACE, AND ALTHOUGH NO DECISION HAD YET BEEN TAKEN ON ITS FUTURE, THE BUILDING WOULD BE RETAINED.

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