XN000022-1976-06-16 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1976

REHOUSING OF BRITISH MILITARY UNITS

MAJOR BUILDING PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED

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THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED DETAILS OF THE MAJOR BUILDING PROGRAMME NECESSARY TO REHOUSE BRITISH MILITARY UNITS NOW BASED AT VICTORIA BARRACKS AND R.A.F. KAI TAK.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE P.W.D.'S BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, MR. JACK STEAN, SAID THE PROGRAMME COSTING $174 MILLION — WOULD FOLLOW A TIGHT SCHEDULE AIMED AT HAVING THE NEW SERVICE FACILITIES READY IN TIME FOR 163 ACRES OF MILITARY LAND TO BE HANDED BACK TO HONG KONG IN KEEPING WITH THE NEW DEFENCE COST AGREEMENT.

UNDER THE AGREEMENT, THE 120-ACRE KAI TAK SITE IS DUE TO BE RETURNED TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BY MARCH 31, 1978 AND THE VICTORIA BARRACKS SITE OF 43.4 ACRES BY MARCH 31, 1979.

MR. STEAN, WHOSE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESIGN PLANNING AND BUILDING OF THE NEW ARMY AND AIRFORCE FACILITIES, WAS SPEAKING AT A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE HE GAVE IN THE P.W.D.'S MURRAY BUILDING HEADQUARTERS TODAY WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF HEAD- QUARTERS BRITISH FORCES, COLONEL C.P.R. PALMER, AND THE ROYAL NAVY'S CAPTAIN-IN-CHARGE H.K., CAPTAIN R.L. GARNONS-WILLIAMS,

MR. STEAN SAID THE MAJOR ITEM IN THE +REPROVISIONING PROGRAMME WOULD BE THE NEW COMPLEX INSIDE H.M.S. TAMAR TO HOUSE THE HEAD- QUARTERS BRITISH FORCES AND MOST OF THE SUPPORTING SERVICES WHICH WOULD MOVE OUT OF VICTORIA BARRACKS.

+THIS $63 MILLION COMPLEX WILL CONSIST OF A 20-STOREY TOWER BUILT OVER À 5-STOREY PODIUM,+ SAID MR. STEAN, AND WILL INCORPORATE OFFICES, MESSES AND QUARTERS, AS WELL AS RECREATIONAL AND OTHER FACILITIES.+

+ IT WILL BE BUILT ON A 36,000-SQUARE-FOOT SITE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BASIN AT H.M.S. TAMAR.

+THE SITE HAS ALREADY BEEN CLEARED AND PILING WORK IS NOW IN HAND, + HE SAID. +BUILDING WORK ON THE SUPERSTRUCTURE WILL BEGIN IN DECEMBER THIS YEAR AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY JANUARY 1979.*

MR. STEAN SAID A SMALLER BUILDING OF TWO STOREYS WOULD BE PROVIDED AT THE EAST SIDE OF THE BASIN TO HOUSE WORKSHOPS, ESSENTIAL STORES AND ASSOCIATED NAVAL FACILITIES, WITH A HELIPAD ON THE ROOF,

+MINOR ALTERATIONS AND RENOVATION WILL ALSO BE CARRIED OUT ON SOME OF THE EXISTING BUILDINGS INSIDE H.M.S. TAMAR AS PART OF THE REPROVISIONING PROGRAMME,+ HE ADDED.

MR. STEAN SAID WORK WAS PROGRESSING ON A WIDE FRONT ON OTHER PROJECTS IN THE REPROVISIONING PROGRAMME, AND MORE CONTRACTS WOULD BE AWARDED IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,

/+ON THE