XN000022-1978-09-21 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1978

NEW BRITISH FORCES HEADQUARTERS TOPPED OUT

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THE 28-STOREY NEW HEADQUARTERS BUILDING FOR THE BRITISH FORCES, AN IMPOSING COMPLEX ON HONG KONG'S WATERFRONT, WAS TOPPED OUT TODAY BY MR. JACK STEAN, DIRECTOR OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

PRESENT AT THE TOPPING-OUT CEREMONY WERE A NUMBER OF SENIOR OFFICERS FROM THE BRITISH FORCES IN HONG KONG INCLUDING COL. JOHN CORNELL. SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF OFFICER AT HEADQUARTERS BRITISH FORCES AND CDR. ANDREW MARX, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HMS TAMAR.

MR. STEAN SAID THE TOPPING OUT CEREMONY WAS A MILESTONE IN THE REPROVISIONING OF VICTORIA BARRACKS.

+NOW THAT THE STRUCTURE IS COMPLETED AND FINISHING AND FITTING-OUT WORKS ARE WELL ADVANCED, THE COMPLETION OF THE BUILDING IN TIME IS MORE THAN POSSIBLE. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE TARGET DATE FOR COMPLETION WILL NOW BE ACHIEVED, HE SAID.

+IN ADDITION TO THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS PROJECT AND THE TIGHT TIME SCALE FOR THE PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION, THE COMPLEXITY OF THE REQUIREMENTS PRESENTED MANY PROBLEMS WHICH COULD NOT BE SOLVED EASILY AND THE PROGRESS SO FAR MADE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE CONCERTED EFFORTS OF ALL CONCERNED, MR. STEAN ADDED.

COL. JOHN CORNELL COMMENTING ON THE CONSTRUCTION WORK SAID THAT THE BRITISH FORCES HAVE BEEN MUCH IMPRESSED WITH THE SPEED AND EFFICIENCY WITH WHICH BOTH THE P.W.D. AND THE CONTRACTORS HAVE GONE ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS VERY

IMPRESSIVE BUILDING.+

+IT IS AN UNUSUAL AND IN SOME WAYS DIFFICULT STRUCTURE WHICH HAS HAD TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN A VERY TIGHT TIME SCALE. THE FACT THAT THE BUILDING PROGRAMME IS ON TIME REFLECTS GREAT CREDIT ON ALL CONCERNED, HE SAID.

A FIVE-STOREY PODIUM OF THE NEW COMPLEX COVERS A GROUND AREA OF 3,000 SQUARE METRES WITH THE FIRST TWO FLOORS DESIGNED AS CARPARK. THE THIRD AND FOURTH FLOORS ARE PARTIALLY COMBINED TO FORM HIGH CEILINGS FOR THE GYMNASIUM AND SHOOTING GALLERY. THE LARGE GYMNASIUM WHICH IS DESIGNED FOR ALL TYPES OF INDOOR GAMES AND PHYSICAL TRAINING ACTIVITIES BOASTS A CEILING HEIGHT OF 7.6 METERS.

THREE PROJECTING BAYS DESIGNED BETWEEN THE THIRD AND FOURTH FLOORS WILL ACCOMMODATE THE SQUASH COURTS WITH THE PLAYING LEVEL ON THE THIRD AND THE VIEWING GALLERY ON THE FOURTH. SOME ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES AND GENERAL STORES ARE LOCATED ON THE HARBOUR SIDE OF THE FIFTH FLOOR WITH AN ANGLICAN CHAPEL SITED ALONG THE HARCOURT ROAD CORNER OF THE COMPLEX. THE LARGE PODIUM ROOF WILL PROVIDE THE FACILITY OF TWO TENNIS COURTS AND LANDSCAPED SITTING OUT AREAS.

/THE PODIUM.....